Wait until next year

So, Mark Buehrle pitched another five perfect innings after his perfect game, but eventually the run was broken, giving up five runs as the White Sox lost 5-3 to the Twins. Nobody’s perfect forever, eh? Any ideas what is the longest run of perfect innings?

Buehrle crashing back to reality was a shame (unless you’re a Twins fan), but was inevitable, eventually. But it could be worse…at least he can say he’s pitched a perfect game, unlike poor Felix Cespedes, who yesterday pitched nine perfect innings for the DSL Phillies, but then had to make way for a reliever with the score still 0-0. He’s not the first potentially-perfect-pitcher let down by his team’s batting. Poor Harvey Haddix pitched twelve perfect innings before losing in the thirteenth back in 1959. Life is cruel. But at least he has since been immortalised by The Baseball Project…

Mark Buehrle pitching a perfect game

So, yesterday Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game. It’s pretty amazing that this has only happened 16 times since 1900 – particularly when you think about just how many thousands of games there have been over that period, and that as something of a sporting ‘holy grail’, this is something most (all?) pitchers are aiming for every single day. I’m struggling to think of a similar achievement in another sport – one that is the ultimate a sportsman can achieve, but happens incredibly rarely. Any thoughts anyone?

Credit also to Dewayne Wise’s catch in the ninth inning. It would be an incredible catch at any time, but with the pressure of a potential perfect game in the offing, this was magnificent. It just goes to show how important teamwork and supporting each other’s teammates still is. The game was already won, essentially. That catch was for Buehrle.

Photograph from myisrblue529