For first time ever, No. 0 faces No. 0

April 20th, 2019

NEW YORK -- Nothing from nothing leaves nothing, as the musician Billy Preston sang in 1974. But when the Yankees' faced the Royals' 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."