Mark Buehrle's perfect game
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Date | July 23, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Venue | 3B: Laz Díaz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Attendance | 28,036 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Television | Comcast SportsNet Chicago | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TV announcers | Ken Harrelson (play-by-play) Steve Stone (color commentary) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Radio | WSCR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Radio announcers | Ed Farmer (play-by-play) Darrin Jackson (color commentary) |
On July 23, 2009,
It was the 18th perfect game and 263rd no-hitter in
Buehrle also logged his second career no-hitter; the first was against the Texas Rangers on April 18, 2007. He became the first pitcher to throw multiple no-hitters since Johnson.[1] Buehrle did this in the midst of setting a Major League record by retiring 45 consecutive batters over three games.[2]
The umpire, Eric Cooper, who stood behind the plate for this perfect game was the same home plate umpire when Buehrle threw his first career no-hitter.[1] Ramón Castro was the catcher. Cooper and Buerhle also shared the same uniform number of 56 and White Sox scoring line was 5-6-0 (five runs on six hits with no errors)
At the time, the Rays were tied for the second-highest on-base percentage (.343) of any team, so they were one of the least likely to allow a perfect game.[3] Buehrle’s perfect game was to become the first of three perfect games and the first of four no-hitters allowed by the Rays in less than three years:
- the second was delivered by Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics on May 9, 2010 (Mother's Day)
- the third was pitched by Edwin Jackson of the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 25, 2010[4]
- and the fourth, which meant the Rays tied the Dodgers as the only MLB franchise to allow three perfect games, being delivered by Félix Hernández on August 15, 2012.[5]
Background
1998 Draft and Major League debut
Mark Buehrle was a 38th round pick and 1139th overall in
First career no-hitter
On April 18, 2007 against the Texas Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field, Mark Buehrle threw his first career no-hitter. In that game, he threw 106 pitches and faced 27 batters while allowing just one walk. After allowing a walk to Sammy Sosa in the fifth inning and one out after a 3–1 pitch, and he was promptly picked off from first base while facing the next batter.[citation needed]
This was the 16th no-hitter in White Sox history, the first one since August 11, 1991 when
2009 campaign
Mark Buehrle was the 2009
2010 Opening Day and play of the season
Buehrle was named the 2010 Opening Day starter for a franchise-record eighth time.
Game
In the bottom of the second inning with two outs and a 3–1 pitch, Josh Fields hit a grand slam off of Scott Kazmir, giving the White Sox a 4–0 lead.[1] In the bottom of the fifth inning, Scott Podsednik hit a lead-off double. The next batter, Alexei Ramírez, scored Podsednik from second with a double of his own, making it a 5–0 White Sox lead.
Two of the Rays batters hit a foul ball very close to the fair territory down the left field line. Five of the Rays hitters had full (3–2) counts.
Ninth inning
In the top of the ninth inning, the Rays’ leadoff hitter, Gabe Kapler, hit a deep fly ball to left field-center field, where DeWayne Wise made a spectacular catch, taking a home run away from Kapler and saving the perfect game for Buehrle. Wise was a defensive replacement prior to the ninth inning.[1] The next batter, Michel Hernández, struck out swinging on a two-seam fastball with a full (3–2) count. The final batter, Jason Bartlett, hit a ground ball to shortstop Alexei Ramírez, who threw it to first baseman Josh Fields (Paul Konerko was the designated hitter for the day) to finish off the history-making moment at 3:10 PM CT.
Game statistics
Linescore
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Tampa Bay Rays (52–44) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chicago White Sox (50–45) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Mark Buehrle (11–3) LP: Scott Kazmir (4–6) Home runs: TB: None CWS: Josh Fields (7) |
Box score
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BATTING
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Other info
- HBP: Nix, J by Kazmir
- Pitches-strikes: Kazmir 98–65, Cormier 20–11, Thayer, D 10–7, Buehrle 116–76
- Groundouts-flyouts: Kazmir 2–11, Cormier 3–0, Thayer, D 0–2, Buehrle 11–10
- Batters faced: Kazmir 27, Cormier 4, Thayer, D 3, Buehrle 27
- Umpires: HP – Eric Cooper, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Chuck Meriwether, 3B – Laz Díaz
- Weather: 69 °F (38 °C), sunny
- Wind: 7 mph, L to R
- Time of first pitch: 1:07 PM CT
- Time: 2:03
- Attendance: 28,036
- Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Play by play
Score | Out | RoB | Pit(cnt) | Batter | Pitcher | Play description |
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1st inning for Rays | ||||||
0–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 1,(0–0) | CF B.J. Upton |
Mark Buehrle | Groundout: 2B-1B |
0–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 5,(1–2) | LF Carl Crawford | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: P-1B |
0–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(1–2) | 3B Evan Longoria | Mark Buehrle | Strikeout Swinging |
1st inning for White Sox | ||||||
0–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(1–2) | CF Scott Podsednik | Scott Kazmir | Strikeout Looking |
0–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 1,(0–0) | SS Alexei Ramírez | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: LF (Short LF-CF) |
0–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 5,(2–2) | RF Jermaine Dye | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: LF (Deep LF Line) |
2nd inning for Rays | ||||||
0–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 7,(3–2) | 1B Carlos Peña | Mark Buehrle | Foulout: 1B (1B Foul) |
0–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(2–2) | 2B Ben Zobrist | Mark Buehrle | Strikeout Swinging |
0–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 5,(2–2) | DH Pat Burrell | Mark Buehrle | Flyout: RF (Deep CF-RF) |
2nd inning for White Sox | ||||||
0–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(1–2) | DH Paul Konerko | Scott Kazmir | Single to RF (Line Drive to Short RF) |
0–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 5,(3–1) | LF Carlos Quentin | Scott Kazmir | Walk; Konerko to 2B |
0–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(3–2) | 3B Gordon Beckham | Scott Kazmir | Strikeout Swinging |
0–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 8,(3–2) | 2B Jayson Nix | Scott Kazmir | Strikeout Swinging |
0–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 3,(0–2) | C Ramón Castro | Scott Kazmir | Single to LF (Line Drive); Konerko to 3B; Quentin to 2B |
0–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 5,(3–1) | 1B Josh Fields | Scott Kazmir | Home Run (Flyball to Deep LF); Konerko Scores; Quentin Scores; Castro Scores |
4–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 3,(0–2) | CF Scott Podsednik | Scott Kazmir | Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS) |
3rd inning for Rays | ||||||
0–4 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 7,(2–2) | RF Gabe Kapler | Mark Buehrle | Flyout: LF (LF-CF) |
0–4 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 3,(0–2) | C Michel Hernández | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS-2B) |
0–4 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 1,(0–0) | SS Jason Bartlett | Mark Buehrle | Flyout: LF (LF-CF) |
3rd inning for White Sox | ||||||
4–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 8,(3–2) | SS Alexei Ramírez | Scott Kazmir | Walk |
4–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | RF Jermaine Dye | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: RF (Deep 2B-1B) |
4–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | DH Paul Konerko | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: CF (Deep CF-RF) |
4–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 1,(0–0) | LF Carlos Quentin | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: CF (Deep CF) |
4th inning for Rays | ||||||
0–4 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(3–2) | CF B.J. Upton |
Mark Buehrle | Strikeout Swinging |
0–4 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 3,(1–1) | LF Carl Crawford | Mark Buehrle | Flyout: LF |
0–4 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | 3B Evan Longoria | Mark Buehrle | Lineout: SS (Weak SS) |
4th inning for White Sox | ||||||
4–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | 3B Gordon Beckham | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: LF (LF-CF) |
4–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(1–2) | 2B Jayson Nix | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: RF (Short CF-RF) |
4–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(3–2) | C Ramón Castro | Scott Kazmir | Walk |
4–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 3,(1–1) | 1B Josh Fields | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: CF (Deep CF) |
5th inning for Rays | ||||||
0–4 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(2–1) | 1B Carlos Peña | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: 1B-P (2B-1B) |
0–4 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 1,(0–0) | 2B Ben Zobrist | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS) |
0–4 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 5,(2–2) | DH Pat Burrell | Mark Buehrle | Strikeout Swinging |
5th inning for White Sox | ||||||
4–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 1,(0–0) | CF Scott Podsednik | Scott Kazmir | Double to RF (Ground Ball) |
4–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | SS Alexei Ramírez | Scott Kazmir | Double to RF (Ground Ball); Podsednik Scores |
5–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 5,(1–2) | RF Jermaine Dye | Scott Kazmir | Strikeout Swinging |
5–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | DH Paul Konerko | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: LF (Deep LF-CF) |
5–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | LF Carlos Quentin | Scott Kazmir | Groundout: 2B-1B |
6th inning for Rays | ||||||
0–5 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 3,(2–0) | RF Gabe Kapler | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B) |
0–5 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(0–2) | C Michel Hernández | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak SS) |
0–5 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 7,(3–2) | SS Jason Bartlett | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS) |
6th inning for White Sox | ||||||
5–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(1–0) | 3B Gordon Beckham | Scott Kazmir | Popout: 1B (P's Left) |
5–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | 2B Jayson Nix | Scott Kazmir | Hit By Pitch |
5–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(2–2) | C Ramón Castro | Scott Kazmir | Strikeout Looking |
5–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(1–2) | 1B Josh Fields | Scott Kazmir | Flyout: LF (LF-CF) |
7th inning for Rays | ||||||
0–5 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(2–1) | CF B.J. Upton |
Mark Buehrle | Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS) |
0–5 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(2–1) | LF Carl Crawford | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: P-1B (P's Left) |
0–5 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 1,(0–0) | 3B Evan Longoria | Mark Buehrle | Flyout: RF (Deep RF) |
7th inning for White Sox | ||||||
5–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(3–2) | CF Scott Podsednik | Lance Cormier | Groundout: P-1B (Weak 2B) |
5–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(0–1) | SS Alexei Ramírez | Lance Cormier | Single to LF (Line Drive to LF-CF) |
5–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(3–2) | RF Jermaine Dye | Lance Cormier | Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B); Ramírez to 2B |
5–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(3–2) | DH Paul Konerko | Lance Cormier | Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B) |
8th inning for Rays | ||||||
0–5 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 3,(0–2) | 1B Carlos Peña | Mark Buehrle | Strikeout Looking |
0–5 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 7,(3–2) | 2B Ben Zobrist | Mark Buehrle | Foulout: 3B (3B Foul) |
0–5 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 7,(2–2) | DH Pat Burrell | Mark Buehrle | Lineout: 3B (Weak 3B) |
8th inning for White Sox | ||||||
5–0 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 2,(1–0) | LF Carlos Quentin | Dale Thayer | Flyout: CF (Deep CF) |
5–0 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 3,(0–2) | 3B Gordon Beckham | Dale Thayer | Flyout: LF (Deep LF) |
5–0 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 5,(2–2) | 2B Jayson Nix | Dale Thayer | Strikeout Looking |
9th inning for Rays | ||||||
0–5 | 0 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(2–2) | RF Gabe Kapler | Mark Buehrle | Flyout: CF (Deep LF-CF) |
0–5 | 1 | ◊◊◊ | 6,(3–2) | C Michel Hernández | Mark Buehrle | Strikeout Swinging |
0–5 | 2 | ◊◊◊ | 4,(2–1) | SS Jason Bartlett | Mark Buehrle | Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS) |
Broadcaster’s reactions
As Buehrle exited the field after the eighth inning, White Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson, calling the game on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, exclaimed "Call your sons! Call your daughters! Call your friends! Call your neighbors! Mark Buehrle has a perfect game going into the ninth!"
When DeWayne Wise made the catch, Harrelson called out: "That ball hit deep into left center field. Wise back, back. Makes the catch! DeWayne Wise makes the catch! What a play by Wise! Mercy!" Upon watching the replay of Wise's catch, Harrelson declared it was "under the circumstances, one of the greatest catches I have ever seen in 50 years in this game."
As the final ground ball of the game rolled towards White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramírez, Harrelson called out: "Alexei?!" As Ramirez completed the throw to first baseman Josh Fields, Harrelson shouted, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! History!"[17]
Though many did not like Harrelson’s verbosity and obvious hometown boosterism at the concluding moment of the game,[18] others felt the outburst of emotion captured exactly what they were feeling as the perfect game was sealed.[19]
Aftermath
With the final out, the White Sox players ran onto the field, hugging each other. President
On July 29, 2009, Mark threw 5+2⁄3 perfect innings. By retiring former teammate Joe Crede, Buehrle set the new record for consecutive batters retired, beating Jim Barr (who had retired 41 consecutive batters over the course of two complete-game wins in 1971, from the third inning of one to the seventh inning of the next) and teammate Bobby Jenks (who had tied Barr’s mark over 14 relief appearances in 2007). Buehrle would then go on to retire the next three batters, before walking Minnesota Twin Alexi Casilla with two outs in the sixth inning, thus foiling Buehrle’s chance of becoming the first pitcher to ever throw a second career perfect game – let alone consecutive perfect games. Denard Span followed Casilla with a single, thus foiling Buehrle’s chance of becoming the second pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters (the first having been Johnny Vander Meer for the 1938 Reds); in fact, Buehrle allowed 5 runs in 6+1⁄3 innings and took the loss on July 29.[22] Combined with the last out of one appearance, his perfect game, and the 5 2/3 innings worth of perfection, Mark set the new record of 45 consecutive batters retired.[2] This mark was broken by Yusmeiro Petit with 46 over eight appearances in 2014.[23]
On July 29, 2009 Illinois Governor Pat Quinn declared July 30 "Mark Buehrle Day". On August 4 before the game against the Los Angeles Angels, the White Sox held a special ceremony and provided "perfect game" and "MLB Record-Setting" giveaways for fans attending the Sox-Angels series. This series against the Angels was called "The Buehrle Appreciation Series".[24]
The left-center field wall where Wise made his ninth-inning home run-robbing catch is marked with the text, "The Catch".
References
- ^ a b c d David Just (July 23, 2009). "Buehrle enters record books with perfecto". MLB.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Jon Krawczynski (July 28, 2009). "Mark Buehrle Sets Perfect Innings Record". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "2009 American League Season Summary". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Marc Lancaster (June 25, 2010). "Edwin Jackson No-Hits Tampa Bay Rays Despite Eight Walks". MLB Fanhouse. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ Stone, Larry (August 15, 2012). "Perfect! Mariners' Felix Hernandez throws perfect game". seattletimes.com. The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
- ^ "38th Round of the 1998 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "Mark Buehrle 2000 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ Scott Merkin (April 19, 2007). "Buehrle an unlikely candidate for no-no". MLB.com. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- ^ "Buehrle gets first win since perfect game as Chicago tops Boston". USA Today. September 8, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
- ^ a b "White Sox Beat Indians 1-0 for Doubleheader Split". Black Christian News. September 30, 2009. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ^ "Mark Buehrle 2009 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ^ Mark Newman (April 5, 2010). "Stage set for full slate of openers". MLB.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ^ Jon Heyman (April 6, 2010). "Superb Buehrle steals Opening Day spotlight with fielding gem". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ^ "Best of Baseball Tonight Web Gem Awards — Monday, Oct 25, 2010". mReplay Livedash TV Transcript. October 25, 2010. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ "Boxscore: Tampa Bay vs. Chicago White Sox - July 23, 2009". MLB.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "July 23, 2009 Tampa Bay Rays at Chicago White Sox Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Buehrle seals perfect game". MLB.com. July 23, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Daniel Berkowitz (July 24, 2009). "Hawk Harrelson's Terrible Buehrle Call". MLB BABBLE. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ 'Duk (July 23, 2009). "Ten reasons we're going nuts over Mark Buehrle's perfect game". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Mark Newman (July 23, 2009). "Obama calls Buehrle after perfect game". MLB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Jon Greenberg (July 23, 2009). "Just like you, but perfect". ESPN Chicago. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
- ^ Game Log: July 29, 2009, Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins, Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Schoenfield, David (August 28, 2014). "Yusmeiro Petit's awesome MLB record". ESPN MLB. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ BJ Lutz (July 30, 2009). "Happy Mark Buehrle Day!". NBC. Retrieved July 18, 2010.