(Not) Perfect Game - Armando Galarraga
There have been more than a few Perfect Games in history, and it's understandable that some of them begin to blend together and lose their unique shine. Sure, games like Don Larsen's WS game will stand the test of time, but some people might be caught off guard if you mention Kenny Rodgers or Len Barker. Sometimes it's the story of how a guy *didn't* set his opposition down 27 in a row that makes the game he pitched so memorable.
Armando Galarraga gets credit by many for setting down 28 guys in a row, with no official credit for a Perfect Game. The story begins on June 2, 2010 as Armando and the Detroit Tigers hosted the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Just four days prior, Roy Halladay had just tossed his own Perfect Game, and if Galarraga had succeeded, that would have broken the record for shortest time between PGs, set by Lee Richmond and John Montgomery Ward, by 1 day.
Galarraga had the Indians handled pretty well, striking out just 3 but allowing no one to reach base as the perfection rolled from inning to inning. The Tigers scored a run early, then finally added a couple more in the 8th to give Armando a cushion as he went out to add his name to a historic list in the 9th inning. Great leather from Austin Jackson secured out #1 and after getting a groundout from the next batter, Galarraga was just one out away.
Then infamy happened.
Jason Donald stepped in as the last hope for the Indians and managed a weak ground ball to the right side, passed Galarraga and fielded by Miguel Cabrera who went too wide from 1st Base. Galarraga ran to cover as Donald sprinted down the line. Cabrera turned, fired to Galarraga and beat the runner by a step....and Donald was ruled safe. 1st Base Umpire Jim Joyce etched his own name into history by making the incorrect safe call, and anytime an Umpire is remembered you know it's gonna be bad. Insult to injury was that Galarraga was standing right next to him as he signaled the safe call.
Manager Jim Leyland went out to argue, the fans were booing, players were dumbfounded, Donald stood with his hands on his head, all while Galarraga could only awkwardly smile. There was no instant replay that extensive in baseball yet that could correct the call, so Leyland couldn't pull that card either. The rules state that unless Jim Joyce asked the other Umpires for help, they couldn't even get together on the field before the next pitch to talk it over, and Joyce made no such appeal to his brothers in blue. Joyce was convinced in the moment that the runner was safe and it wasn't until he saw a replay that he realized the enormity of his mistake. After a brief moment of shock for all of Detroit, there was still a game to finish.
Trevor Crowe stepped in next and worked the count against Galarraga while Donald ran all the way to 3rd Base from defensive indifference. Perhaps everyone just pretended Donald was out and ignored him as he ran around. Galarraga could afford the extra batter, as his 88 total pitches in the game was more than economical. Miguel Cabrera, in classic form, was still more concerned with yelling at Jim Joyce than playing the game at this point. Galarraga induced one more groundball and this one was correctly called out to finally end the game.
The abuse for Joyce did not end with the game. After the 27th 28th out, Cabrera was now joined by several more Tigers players in screaming at Joyce. The other Umpires ran in to act as barriers. Leyland pulled some of his guys away only to resume his own screaming at the poor ump. Detroit fans, always classy, began making death threats. Mass hysteria.
Of all the fallout, the only adults in the situation were Galarraga and Joyce, who met at home plate the next day for lineup card exchanges where Joyce would once again own up to his mistake and apologize. The two would go on to write a book about the events together (and subsequentially get Joyce banned from ever umpiring another game involving Galarraga since they were business partners now).
The failure to achieve perfection was far from the first time a PG ended on out 27, but the controversy and circumstances ensured it was more memorable than the other near misses. Galarraga would sum up the opinions of many with his commentary afterwards when he said he knows he pitched a Perfect Game and that there's the silver lining that he pitched the first ever 28 out Perfect Game.
Armando Galarraga's unlikely innings and control don't lend themselves to what a Perfect Game pitcher would generally contain, which makes it all the more painful that he was denied perfection.
Roberto Hernandez actually held his own for the most part. He went all 8 innings on the mound for the Indians. In fact, the Indians didn't make any substitutions that day.
Avila was tasked with guiding his Starter through that attempted perfection.
Miguel Cabrera provided some early power with a homer that gave Galarraga a 1-0 lead.
If Galarraga attained perfection, Austin Jackson's 9th inning running catch would have been ranked as one of the most memorable defensive plays in Tiger's history.
Trevor Crowe has the distinct honor of getting to hit 4 times during an opponent's Perfect Game.
