An umpire’s blown call on what would have been the final out of the ball game cost a Detroit Tigers pitcher the chance to record Major League Baseball's third perfect game in less than a month.
After retiring 26 straight batters, Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga made a play at first base that should have been the final out of the game, but the umpire ruled that the Cleveland Indians baserunner was safe.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland charged out of the dugout to protest a call that was not overturned. Replays revealed that Galarraga had his foot on the bag ahead of the runner, however baseball only uses replays for questionable home runs and not umpire calls. “I just cost that kid a perfect game." first-base umpire Jim Joyce said. "I was convinced he beat the throw until the replay. It was biggest call of my career.”
Galarraga went on to get the next batter out and finish the 3-0 victory with three strikeouts. Had the blown call gone Galarraga's way, the Venezuelan pitcher would have recorded the third perfect game in a season just over two months old.
It would have also been an unlikely occurrence for the 28-year-old pitcher considering he was not in the rotation a few weeks ago. Still, Galarraga was sympathetic to the umpire and even offered a hug him.
{{/usCountry}}It would have also been an unlikely occurrence for the 28-year-old pitcher considering he was not in the rotation a few weeks ago. Still, Galarraga was sympathetic to the umpire and even offered a hug him.
{{/usCountry}}"He apologized. He feels really bad. Nobody is perfect," said Galarraga. "What am I gonna do? His body language said more than a lot of words. His eyes were watery, he didn't have too say much. His body language said a lot."
Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden tossed a perfect game on May 9 and Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies achieved the feat on May 29.