For first time ever, No. 0 faces No. 0
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NEW YORK -- Nothing from nothing leaves nothing, as the musician Billy Preston sang in 1974. But when the Yankees' Adam Ottavino faced the Royals' Terrance Gore in the seventh inning of New York's 6-2 win on Friday at Yankee Stadium, we had something -- baseball history.
Both players wear the uniform No. 0, marking the first zero vs. zero matchup to take place on a Major League diamond. With apologies to "Seinfeld," Ottavino won this showdown about nothing, striking out the Kansas City outfielder on a 2-2 slider.
"I knew it was coming," Ottavino said. "I thought I had faced somebody before that, but I was wrong. I really don't know what to say about it -- two guys with stupid numbers."
Ottavino is the first Yankee to wear No. 0; Gore is the second Royal to do so, following George Scott in 1979. Having previously pitched for the Rockies, Ottavino recalled a similar showdown that transpired in the National League West.
"One time I pitched and [the Dodgers'] Brian Wilson pitched at the same time with double-zero," Ottavino said. "That's the only other weird, quirky one that happened like that."