(Not) Perfect Game - Pedro Martinez

 It's been a while since my last Perfect Game post, but blame the Bot for not having the proper logo for Mike Witt. I am prepared to die on this hill. Meanwhile, I can give examples of the near misses of the perfect game attempts. Today we look at Pedro Martinez. No, not *that* Pedro Martinez. Martinez began his career in LA, gained prominence in Boston and ended his career with the Mets and Phillies. But, he was also associated with another NL East franchise when he spent four seasons north of the border as a member of the Montreal Expos.

Martinez wasn't exactly anonymous in Canada, either. His first couple all star nods and first Cy Young award happened there. Before any of those accomplishments, Pedro almost became immortal when he took a perfect game into extra innings. On June 3, 1995, Martinez took to the mound at Jack Murphy Stadium to face the hometown San Diego Padres. What took place was one of the most standout pitching duels of the decade.

For nine innings, Martinez mowed down the Padres hitters, striking out 9 and retiring all 27 opponents he faced. It was a perfect game...except the game wasn't over yet. The Expos being the Expos, the offense failed to do anything to help Pedro out. Padres starter Joey Hamilton wasn't as impressive on the mound, only striking out two men, but he tossed a shutout of his own. The Expos managed a couple walks and three hits, but couldn't string any of those together to get Martinez even a single run. After nine innings, the score was still 0-0. A perfect game is only a perfect game if you win the game, and that means the offense had to do their part.

In the top of the 10th inning, the Expos finally broke through and scored a run. With the score 1-0, Martinez returned to the mound, finally a chance to accomplish perfection, and a chance to become the first 10 inning perfect game pitcher. Bip Roberts, however, had plans of his own, as he led off the bottom of the 10th with a double.

With the perfect game gone, and now the tying run in scoring position with no outs, Manager Felipe Alou did what Grady Little couldn't do in 2003: yank a tired Martinez from the game with a chance for the bullpen to win before Martinez blows it. Closer Mel Rojas entered the game, retired the next three batters, winning the game for the Expos.

In 1995, Martinez was becoming the elite pitcher most people were accustomed to. With only 6IP, he would have 0 control by that 10th inning, spelling disaster when he was going against the top of the order. Alou was smart to pull Pedro, preserving his win once the perfecto was ruined.

Fletcher was behind the plate for all 10 innings of this duel. His '95 mirrored his OG Showdown cards where he had bad on-base but a decent potential for power.

Rojas saved the day for the Expos that night, coming in fresh in relief to preserve the 1-0 victory. One year after the baseball strike ruined their miracle season, the Expos were back to being mediocre, but Rojas still managed to shut the door on 30 saves.

Martinez would have been perfect with his nine incredible innings if not for the efforts of Joey Hamilton. The young right hander matched Martinez on the scoreboard where it mattered most: keeping the Expos out of the run column. After nine shutout innings, Hamilton was pinch-hit for. It was doubtful he would pitch the 10th after 127 pitches, but it would've been cool to see if he could one-up Martinez.
Hamilton would become a fixture in the Padres rotation, even helping them win the pennant in 1998 (though he was relegated to bullpen duty in the World Series)

Rookie Shane Andrews reached base in the top of the 10th and found his way to score as the lone run of the game. Like his future Showdown card would show, Shane was good for a high power chart, and also good for a terrible on-base to go with it.

1995 would be the final year in the career of Jeff Treadway. Starting the season with the Dodgers, he found himself traded to Montreal, and not even two weeks later he found himself the hero of the 10-inning game where he knocked in Andrews with a 2 out hit.

The Padres may have lost that day, but Bip Roberts was still the hero, breaking up the perfect game in the 10th with a double.