Buehrle Throws Perfect Game
A no-hitter wasn't enough for White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. This time he threw a perfect game.
Buehrle retired all 27 Tampa Bay Rays batters he faced on Thursday, finishing with the first perfect game in the major leagues in five years. He struck out six, got a bunch of ground ball outs and finished with a flourish, thanks to one of the best, home-run saving grabs you'll ever see, courtesy of DeWayne Wise.
Wise entered the game as a defensive replacement at the start of the inning, which means Buehrle should probably give some kind of an assist to manager Ozzie Guillen. And the catch is almost sure to upstage other highlights from the perfect game ... and other highlights from the rest of the week, for that matter.
Buehrle's second no-hitter in 27 months is also the 18th perfect game in MLB history, with Randy Johnson earning the last perfect no-no in 2004 against the Braves.
Here's the aforementioned catch by Wise, just as brilliant on grainey video as it was in real time.
By
Cameron Smith
|
July 23, 2009; 4:53 PM ET
Categories:
Rays
,
White Sox
| Tags: Mark Buehrle, Rays, White Sox, no hitter, no-hitter, perfect game
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Posted by: NatsMan21 | July 23, 2009 5:39 PM | Report abuse
Super Willie Harris wouldn't have bobbled it. ;-)
MLB Network has had great coverage, with replays of the top of the 9th and analysis. Interesting to hear the insights and experiences of guys who were involved in no-hitters or perfect games in their day.
I assumed that A.J. Pierzynski would have been behind the dish but it was Ramon Castro, who had evidently not caught Buerhle before other than in the 'pen. On MLB Network they said that Buerhle never shook him off, nor did Castro visit the mound.
Hawk Harrelson's call of the final out was hilarious.
Posted by: natsfan1a1 | July 23, 2009 6:05 PM | Report abuse
Anyone else look at Buerhle and think this is what John Lannan could become with a little more seasoning?
Posted by: mjsciann1 | July 23, 2009 8:57 PM | Report abuse
Let us hear no more criticism of defensive replacements for outfielders.
Posted by: markfromark | July 23, 2009 11:00 PM | Report abuse
hilarious story on espn just now about the catchers...mark found out aj wasnt catching, talked to him about it, aj said well go throw a no-no...mark said we did that already...aj said then throw a perfect game...
Posted by: formerlylove1 | July 23, 2009 11:02 PM | Report abuse
I love how, when the ball comes off the bat, you can actually hear the crowd groan, then get almost quiet, then explode.
Go SOX
Posted by: markfromark | July 23, 2009 11:02 PM | Report abuse
I was thinking about him while watching post-game analysis on MLB Network, mj. Specifically, when they were talking about how he'd worked fast and pitched to contact while not having overpowering stuff.
Posted by: natsfan1a1 | July 24, 2009 8:54 AM | Report abuse
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That was amazing, MUST be web gem of the year,