Matt Cain's perfect game

Last updated

Matt Cain's perfect game
Matt Cain debut.jpg
Matt Cain in 2007
Houston Astros San Francisco Giants
0 10
123456789 R H E
Houston Astros 000000000000
San Francisco Giants 23212000010150
DateJune 13, 2012
Venue AT&T Park
City San Francisco, California
Managers
Attendance42,298
Television Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
TV announcers Duane Kuiper (play-by-play/color commentary)
Jon Miller (play-by-play/color commentary)
Dave Flemming (play-by-play during middle innings)
Radio KNBR
Radio announcers Dave Flemming (play-by-play)
Duane Kuiper (play-by-play during middle innings)

On June 13, 2012, Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants pitched the 22nd perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB) history and the first in Giants' franchise history. Prior to the game, Cain and professional golfer Dustin Johnson hit golf balls from home plate into McCovey Cove. [1] Pitching against the Houston Astros at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, [2] Cain retired all 27 batters that he faced and tallied 14 strikeouts, [3] tied for the most strikeouts in a perfect game with Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965. Following Philip Humber's perfect game earlier in 2012, Cain's performance marked just the third season in MLB history in which multiple perfect games were thrown. In June 1880, Lee Richmond and John Montgomery Ward both threw perfect games; in May 2010 Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay both accomplished the feat. [4]

Contents

Two notable defensive plays by Cain's teammates kept the perfect game intact. Melky Cabrera made a running catch at the wall in left field in the top of the sixth inning, while Gregor Blanco made a diving catch in right-center field to start the top of the seventh. [5]

It was the first Giants no-hitter since left-hander Jonathan Sánchez threw one on July 10, 2009, against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park. The Astros were no-hit for the fifth time in franchise history, and the first time since Carlos Zambrano threw a no-hitter for the Chicago Cubs on September 14, 2008 at Miller Park (moved from Minute Maid Park because of Hurricane Ike). It was the second time the Astros were no-hit by the Giants; Juan Marichal did it on June 15, 1963. [6] It was also the first time in Astros history that no one reached base safely.

Cain surpassed his previous personal best of 12 strikeouts in a single game, which he set in 2006. Cain's 125 pitches were the most thrown in a Major League perfect game. [7] The Giants recorded 10 runs, the second most by any team in a perfect game after the New York Yankees who scored 11 runs during Domingo Germán's perfect game. [8] By scoring a run in the 5th inning, Cain became the only pitcher to have scored a run in his perfect game, a distinction which will likely stand in perpetuity following the National League's permanent adoption of the designated hitter beginning in the 2022 season.

The final out was made by Astros pinch-hitter Jason Castro. Castro chopped a 1-2 pitch to third base where it was fielded deep behind the bag by third baseman Joaquin Arias. Arias successfully made the long throw across the diamond to first baseman Brandon Belt, who then tucked the ball in his back pocket before joining his teammates on the mound in celebration. [9]

Duane Kuiper and Jon Miller (as Mike Krukow was absent)[ why? ] were announcing on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area while Dave Flemming was on KNBR. Kuiper and Flemming switched spots on TV and radio during the middle innings.

Statistics

Linescore

Team123456789 R H E
Houston Astros (26–36)000000000000
San Francisco Giants (36–27)23212000X10150
WP: Matt Cain (8–2)   LP: J. A. Happ (4–7)
Home runs:
HOU: None
SF: Melky Cabrera (5), Brandon Belt (2), Gregor Blanco (4)

Box score

Other info

[10]

Reactions

And this is hit out into the alleyway, a long run for Blanco, and Blanco's gonna dive, and he makes the catch! Just an unbelievable catch by Gregor Blanco!

—  Duane Kuiper calls Gregor Blanco's diving catch in the 7th inning.

Here's the 3-2 pitch on the way. And it is driven to right center field, on the move Blanco, sprinting back, Gregor Blanco reaches out, DIVING, HE CAUGHT IT!

—  Giants radio call of Blanco's catch.

Cain appeared to look around. Gazing at the upper deck. But now looking into Buster Posey. One ball and two strikes. On the ground, Arias, from deep third, got him! And that's a perfect game!

— Kuiper calls the final out.

I knew that I hadn't given up a hit early in the game, whether it was the third or fourth inning. But you (Amy G of CSN Bay Area) were the one that told me it was a perfect game. I had never thought about that.

— Cain, responding to a reporter's question about when he realized he had not allowed a baserunner.

Aftermath

Cain's cleats, hat, uniform, dirt taken from the pitcher's mound, and a ball from the game will be included in an exhibit in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. All four umpires signed a game ball for Cain, and Belt gave Cain the ball used to record the final out. [7]

According to Bill James' game score statistic, Cain's perfect game tied Sandy Koufax's perfect game for the most dominant modern-era perfect game. [11]

Cain's perfect game would be the first of four no-hitters thrown by Giants pitching in four consecutive seasons, as Tim Lincecum would no-hit the San Diego Padres in both 2013 (in San Diego) and 2014 (in San Francisco), and Chris Heston would no-hit the New York Mets during his rookie season in 2015. Lincecum's first no-hitter came only eleven days after being the losing pitcher when the Giants were no-hit by Homer Bailey of the Cincinnati Reds.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No-hitter</span> Baseball game in which a team does not record a hit

In baseball, a no-hitter or no-hit game is a game in which a team does not record a hit through conventional methods. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine complete innings recorded no hits. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is thereby said to have "thrown a no-hitter". In most cases, no-hitters are recorded by a single pitcher who throws a complete game; one thrown by two or more pitchers is a combined no-hitter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duane Kuiper</span> American baseball player and broadcaster (born 1950)

Duane Eugene Kuiper, nicknamed "Kuip", is an American sportscaster and former professional baseball player. As a player, he was a second baseman for the Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). Save for one year, Kuiper has been a television and radio broadcaster for the Giants since 1986, and is one half of the popular "Kruk and Kuip" duo alongside his friend and former teammate Mike Krukow. He briefly left the Giants in 1993 to work for the expansion Colorado Rockies, but returned in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Cain</span> American baseball player (born 1984)

Matthew Thomas Cain is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career for the San Francisco Giants from 2005 to 2017. A three-time World Series champion and a three-time National League All-Star, he is widely regarded as a central figure of the Giants' success in the 2010s for his pitching and leadership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joaquín Arias (baseball)</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1984)

Joaquín Arias is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregor Blanco</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1983)

Grégor Miguel Blanco Pedraza is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, and Arizona Diamondbacks. His nickname was "White Shark", as blanco is white in Spanish, and he played for Los Tiburones de La Guaira, The Sharks of CUA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 World Series</span> 2010 Major League Baseball season

The 2010 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2010 season. The 106th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Texas Rangers and the National League (NL) champion San Francisco Giants; the Giants won the series, four games to one, to secure their first World Series championship since 1954 and their first since relocating to San Francisco from New York City in 1958. The series began on Wednesday, October 27, and ended on Monday, November 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 National League Championship Series</span> Baseball championship series

The 2010 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was a best-of-seven game Major League Baseball playoff series that pitted the winners of the 2010 National League Division Series—the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants—against each other for the National League Championship. The Giants would defeat the Phillies, four games to two, to advance to their first World Series since 2002. The series, the 41st NLCS in league history, began on October 16 and ended on October 23. The Phillies had home field advantage as a result of their better regular-season record. The Phillies hosted Games 1, 2 and 6, while the Giants were at home for Games 3, 4 and 5.

The San Francisco Giants are an American baseball team. Their 2012 season marked their 130th year in Major League Baseball, as well as their 55th year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and the 13th at AT&T Park. The Giants finished with a record of 94–68, They finished in first place in the National League West, and defeated the Cincinnati Reds in five games in the NLDS thereby becoming the first National League team to come back from a 2–0 deficit in a best-of-five series by sweeping three games in the opponent's park. The Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games after overcoming a 3–1 deficit in the NLCS and advancing to the World Series to face the Detroit Tigers. They swept the Tigers in four games to win their second World Series title in three years. The season also saw Giants pitcher Matt Cain throw a perfect game on June 13, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 World Series</span> 108th edition of Major League Baseballs championship series

The 2012 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2012 season. The 108th edition of the World Series, the series was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion San Francisco Giants and the American League (AL) champion Detroit Tigers; the Giants won in a four-game sweep. This marked the Giants' seventh World Series title in franchise history, their second in San Francisco, and their second in a three-year period (2010–2012). Their World Series sweep was the first by an NL team since the Cincinnati Reds swept the Oakland Athletics in the 1990 series and the first NL sweep not by the Reds since 1963, when the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the New York Yankees. This was also the first World Series since 1988 to feature both of that year's League MVPs. The Giants' Pablo Sandoval, who in Game 1 tied a record by hitting three home runs in one World Series game — two off Tigers' ace pitcher Justin Verlander — was named the World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 National League Division Series</span> American baseball games

The 2012 National League Division Series were two best-of-five-game series to determine the participating teams in the 2012 National League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—the winner of a one-game Wild Card playoff—played in two separate series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 National League Championship Series</span> Baseball championship series

The 2012 National League Championship Series was a best-of-seven playoff pitting the San Francisco Giants against the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League pennant and the right to play in the 2012 World Series. The series, the 43rd NLCS in league history, began Sunday, October 14, and ended Monday, October 22, with Fox airing all games in the United States. In shades of the 1996 NLCS, a series where the Cardinals blew a 3–1 series lead where they were outscored 32–1 over the final three games, the Giants came back from a 3–1 deficit and outscored the Cardinals, 20–1, over the final three games to win the series, 4–3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Muchlinski</span> American baseball umpire (born 1977)

Michael William Muchlinski is an American Major League Baseball umpire. He umpired his first Major League game on April 24, 2006, and was officially hired by MLB prior to the 2014 season.

The 2013 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 131st year in Major League Baseball, their 56th year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and their 14th at AT&T Park. They entered the season as the defending World Series Champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 World Series</span> 110th edition of Major League Baseballs 7 game championship series

The 2014 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2014 season. The 110th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion San Francisco Giants and the American League (AL) champion Kansas City Royals. The series was played from October 21 to 29. The Giants defeated the Royals four games to three to clinch their third World Series championship in a five-season span (2010–14), and their third overall since the club's move to San Francisco from New York. It was the Giants' eighth World Series championship in franchise history, and the Giants became the first team in MLB history to win the World Series as a number five seed. The series was also the sixth straight World Series to be won by a team that had missed the playoffs the year before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 San Francisco Giants season</span> Major League Baseball season

The 2014 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 132nd year in Major League Baseball, their 57th year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and their 15th at AT&T Park. The Giants finished the season in second place in the National League West, but qualified for the playoffs and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLWC Game and the Washington Nationals in the NLDS. They defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS in five games and beat the Kansas City Royals in seven games in the World Series, their third World Series win in five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 National League Championship Series</span> Baseball championship series

The 2014 National League Championship Series was a best-of-seven playoff pitting the St. Louis Cardinals against the San Francisco Giants for the National League pennant and the right to play in the 2014 World Series. The series was the 45th NLCS in league history with Fox airing Game 1 and Fox Sports 1 airing Games 2–5 in the United States. Game 1 was simulcast on Fox Sports 1 and was hosted by Kevin Burkhardt, Gabe Kapler and C.J. Nitkowski, who offered sabermetric analysis of the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 American League Championship Series</span> 45th edition of Major League Baseballs American League Championship Series

The 2014 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven playoff pitting the Baltimore Orioles against the Kansas City Royals for the American League pennant and the right to play in the 2014 World Series. The Royals won the series four games to zero. The series was the 45th in league history with TBS airing all games in the United States. Even as the Royals swept the series, each game was decided by two runs or fewer.

References

  1. ↑ Pavlovic, Alex. "Cain recalls unique pregame swing that led to perfect game". nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  2. ↑ Crossman, Matt. "Matt Cain's perfect game adds catcher Buster Posey to select fraternity". aol.sportingnews.com. Huffington Post Media Group. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  3. ↑ Kroner, Steve (June 14, 2012). "Matt Cain throws perfect game as Giants win 10-0". SF Gate. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Cain Pitches 22nd Perfect Game in MLB as Giants Beat Astros". Bloomberg. June 13, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  5. ↑ Lee, Jay (June 14, 2012). "Blanco positions himself to save perfect game". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants – Recap – June 13, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  7. 1 2 as of 11:14 AM ET (April 7, 2010). "Matt Cain gem gives Giants a perfect game at last". Fox News. Retrieved June 15, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ New York Yankees vs Oakland Athletics Box Score: June 28, 2023, June 28, 2023, archived from the original on July 3, 2023, retrieved July 2, 2023
  9. ↑ "Matt Cain gem gives Giants a perfect game at last".
  10. ↑ "Boxscore: Houston Astros at San Francisco Giants". MLB.com . Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ Hoffman, Benjamin (June 14, 2012). "Matt Cain's Perfection Matched by His Dominance". The New York Times . Retrieved June 15, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.