On the world stage

Shairon Martis pitching in the World Baseball Classic

Right-hander Shairon Martis pitches the first no-hitter in the World Baseball Classic 19 years ago today in the Netherlands’ 10-0 victory over Panama at Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

The tournament’s 10-run mercy rule limits the game to seven innings.

That is just fine with Martis, whose final pitch of the game is his 65th – the maximum allowed for starting pitchers in the tournament’s opening round.

Martis’ final pitch produces the game’s final two outs as Panama’s Cesar Quintero hits into a double play grounder.

Dutch teammates greet Shairon Martis after his no-hitter 19 years ago today against Panama

Not as if Martis overpowers Panama, either, as he strikes out, well, no one.

“I was thinking I had to keep the fastball low to get as many groundballs as possible,” Martis says after the game. “I used fastballs and sliders. I feel very proud of having thrown a no-hitter, and I really don’t have any other words to describe it.”

The WBC has another no-hitter with that coming on March 13, 2023 as Puerto Rico’s Jose DeLeon, Yacksel Rios, Edwin Diaz and Duane Underwood Jr. combine to beat Israel 10-0 in their 2023 tournament game in Miami.

As it stands – at least for now – Martis remains the only one to pitch a complete game no-hitter in the WBC, even if that one is cut short to seven innings 19 years ago today.

Martis, who will be 38 at the end of March, still is pitching in the Dutch Major League, finishing the 2024 season with a perfect 11-0 record and 1.45 earned-run average in 15 starts for Curacao Neptunus.