Colon tosses first Yankee complete-game shutout since May 2009 as Yanks beat A’s 5-0

"When you're a boss you're a boss all the way..." (photo c/o Getty)

authored the first complete-game shutout by a Yankee pitcher since did it against the Orioles on May 8, 2009, as on Memorial Day. Some of my Twitter pals were teasing me as I’ve been rather obsessed with the fact that the Yankees not only hadn’t yet recorded a shutout in 2011 but were also the only team in MLB not to do so this season prior to this game, but as the complete game has become an increasingly rare feat — not to mention the fact that keeping a Major League Baseball team scoreless for nine innings is perhaps an even more difficult achievement– I can’t help but find it monumentally impressive.

And it becomes that much more impressive when you realize that this was only the Yankees’ third complete-game shutout since 2006 (the third being a start against the Rays on July 28, 2006). It’s funny; it’s not as if the Yankees have employed a series of hapless pitchers during that timeframe, and I’d imagine that the presence of the Greatest Closer of All Time has also cut several potential complete-game shutouts short. Or, as B-Ref astutely noted, “the dearth of individual shutouts during the latest Yankee dynasty is not really a reflection on the starting pitchers. Rather, it shows that they usually have a strong bullpen, and they’re always looking beyond today’s game towards the postseason.”

Anyway, Colon was downright dominant, only putting four men on base all game — all via base hits — while striking out six. The A’s didn’t get a man to third base until the ninth inning. Believe it or not, at .325 this was only Colon’s third-best game by WPA — though that’s of course due to the fact that he had more run support this time out — but it was probably his best start of the year in a season full of impressive outings. In fact, it was the best Yankee start of the season by Game Score, as Colon racked up an 85 (besting the 82 he recorded vs. the Orioles on May 18).

The Yankees got to early, plating three runs in the opening frame (including another bomb), but then went silently until grabbing another run on a sac fly in the 7th and another in the 9th. It wouldn’t matter anyway, as they’d have all they runs they’d need after the first, coasting on Colon’s superb right arm.