NEW YORK — Corey Kluber‘s bid to match Johnny Vander Meer’s feat of consecutive no-hitters ended when Toronto’s Bo Bichette reached on an infield single with one out in the third on Tuesday night, and the New York Yankees removed the 35-year-old right-hander after the inning.
Two innings later, the team announced that the veteran had tightness in his right shoulder, and will be further evaluated Wednesday. An MRI will be a part of the evaluation.
Coming off a no-hitter at Texas last Wednesday, Kluber opened with 2 1/3 hitless innings before Bichette grounded to shortstop and beat Gleyber Torres‘ off-line throw from the left-field grass.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a home run into the Yankees bullpen in right-center on a flat cutter for a 2-0 lead, his major league-leading 16th home run.
Kluber retired Randal Grichuk, then was replaced by Michael King at the start of the fourth.
A two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, Kluber threw 58 pitches, walked three and struck out five.
Kluber’s 2019 season ended for Cleveland that May 1 when he was hit on the forearm by a comebacker, and his debut for Texas in 2020 lasted just one inning before he tore a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26.
Kluber battled some control issues to start the season but has settled into a reliable No. 2 behind Gerrit Cole in New York. Entering Tuesday, he was 4-2 with a 2.86 ERA and 50 strikeouts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.