Baseball is a sport that celebrates individual achievements and records as much as it does team success. One of the most prestigious achievements a pitcher can have is a perfect game, in which they retire every batter of the opposing team without allowing a single baserunner to reach base.
On April 2, 2013, Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers came agonizingly close to achieving this feat against the Houston Astros.
Through eight and two-thirds innings, Darvish had yet to allow a hit or walk, and had struck out an impressive 14 batters. However, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, he gave up a single to Marwin González, thus ending his perfect game bid.
This performance left many wondering: does Yu Darvish have a perfect game to his name? In this blog post, we will explore the circumstances surrounding Darvish’s near-perfect game and whether or not it meets the criteria for a perfect game in baseball.
The Game
Yu Darvish’s pitching performance against the Houston Astros on April 2, 2013, was one of the most dominant in recent memory. He was in complete control throughout the game, retiring the first 26 batters he faced without allowing a hit or walk, and striking out 14 Astros in the process.
As the game entered the bottom of the ninth inning, the tension in the stadium was palpable. The Rangers were leading 7-0, and Darvish was just three outs away from completing what would have been only the 24th perfect game in Major League Baseball history.
However, things quickly became interesting when Darvish struck out the first two batters he faced in the inning.
With two outs and the perfect game bid still intact, Darvish faced Astros’ shortstop Marwin González. Darvish’s first pitch to González was a 2-2 slider that just missed the strike zone.
The second pitch was another slider, but this time it caught too much of the plate, and González hit a sharp ground ball up the middle for a single.
Darvish’s reaction to losing his perfect game bid was a mixture of disappointment and disbelief. He stood on the mound for a few seconds, staring out at the field in disbelief, before collecting himself and finishing the game with a strikeout.
Looking back at Darvish’s pitch selection leading up to González’s hit, it’s clear that he was trying to be aggressive and finish off the game with a strikeout.
Both of the sliders he threw to González were in the strike zone, and he likely thought he could get González to chase them.
However, González did a good job of putting the bat on the ball and hitting it where the Rangers’ infielders couldn’t make a play.
Overall, Darvish’s performance against the Astros was nothing short of remarkable, even though he fell just short of a perfect game. His dominance on the mound that day is a testament to his skill and ability as a pitcher, and it will be remembered by baseball fans for years to come.
What is a Perfect Game?
A perfect game is a rare and coveted achievement in baseball, in which a pitcher retires every single batter of the opposing team without allowing a single baserunner to reach base. In other words, the pitcher must throw a complete game shutout and not allow any hits, walks, hit batters, or errors.
To achieve a perfect game, a pitcher must complete a full nine-inning game and not allow any runners to reach base.
This means that the pitcher cannot give up any hits, walks, or hit batters, and that no defensive errors can occur during the game. The pitcher must also throw a shutout, meaning that no runs can be scored by the opposing team.
A perfect game is considered the most impressive and difficult achievement for a pitcher in baseball, as it requires complete and utter dominance on the mound.
The rarity of perfect games is reflected in the fact that, as of 2021, there have only been 23 perfect games in Major League Baseball history, with the most recent one being thrown by Seattle Mariners’ pitcher Felix Hernandez on August 15, 2012.
A perfect game is often compared to other impressive pitching achievements, such as a no-hitter or shutout. A no-hitter is when a pitcher completes a game without allowing any hits, but they may have allowed walks or hit batters.
A shutout is when a pitcher completes a game without allowing any runs, but they may have given up hits or walks. While these are still impressive achievements, a perfect game is considered the pinnacle of pitching excellence, as it requires the pitcher to not allow any baserunners at all.
A perfect game is an incredibly rare and difficult achievement in baseball that requires a pitcher to throw a complete game shutout and not allow any hits, walks, hit batters, or errors. It is considered the most impressive and difficult pitching achievement in baseball and is a testament to the pitcher’s skill and dominance on the mound.
Other Near-perfect Games
While there have only been 23 perfect games in Major League Baseball history, there have been several other notable near-perfect games that have come very close to achieving the same feat.
One of the most famous near-perfect games was thrown by Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959. Haddix retired the first 36 batters he faced in the game, pitching 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves.
However, in the 13th inning, a throwing error by the Pirates’ third baseman allowed the leadoff batter to reach base, ending Haddix’s perfect game bid. Despite this, Haddix continued to pitch a scoreless game until the 13th inning, when the Braves were able to score a run and win the game.
Another notable near-perfect game was thrown by Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox in 1995. Martinez retired the first 27 batters he faced against the San Diego Padres, striking out 17 batters along the way.
However, in the eighth inning, he gave up a double to Bip Roberts, ending his perfect game bid. Despite this, Martinez finished the game with a one-hit shutout and 16 strikeouts.
When comparing Yu Darvish’s performance to other near-perfect games, his outing stands out for the sheer dominance he displayed on the mound. Not only did he retire the first 26 batters he faced, but he did so without allowing any walks or even coming close to allowing a hit until the final batter of the game.
Additionally, he struck out 14 batters in the game, showcasing his exceptional pitching ability. While Darvish was not able to complete the perfect game, his near-perfect performance against the Astros is still considered one of the most impressive pitching performances in recent memory.
Comparison of Yu Darvish’s Near-Perfect Game to Other Notable Near-Perfect Games in Baseball History
| Pitcher | Date | Opponent | Innings Pitched | Hits Allowed | Walks | Strikeouts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yu Darvish | April 2, 2013 | Houston Astros | 8 2/3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | Win |
| Harvey Haddix | May 26, 1959 | Milwaukee Braves | 12 | 1 | 0 | 8 | Loss |
| Pedro Martinez | June 3, 1995 | San Diego Padres | 9 | 1 | 0 | 17 | Win |
The table compares Yu Darvish’s near-perfect game against the Houston Astros to two other notable near-perfect games in baseball history: Harvey Haddix’s 12-inning game against the Milwaukee Braves in 1959 and Pedro Martinez’s one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres in 1995.
The table includes information on the pitcher, date, opponent, innings pitched, hits allowed, walks, strikeouts, and result of each game. It highlights the dominance of each pitcher’s performance, as well as the similarities and differences between their near-perfect games.
FAQs
How rare is a perfect game in baseball?
A perfect game is an incredibly rare achievement in baseball, as it requires the pitcher to retire every single batter without allowing any baserunners. As of 2021, there have only been 23 perfect games in Major League Baseball history.
How close was Yu Darvish to throwing a perfect game?
Yu Darvish was just one out away from completing a perfect game when he gave up a single to Marwin González of the Houston Astros in the bottom of the ninth inning.
What is the difference between a perfect game and a no-hitter?
While both are impressive achievements, a perfect game is considered more difficult than a no-hitter. In a perfect game, the pitcher cannot allow any baserunners, while in a no-hitter, the pitcher can allow baserunners via walks or hit batters but cannot allow any hits.
How many other near-perfect games have there been in baseball history?
There have been several other notable near-perfect games in baseball history, including those thrown by Harvey Haddix and Pedro Martinez, among others.
What was Yu Darvish’s reaction to giving up the hit that ended his perfect game bid?
According to reports, Darvish was visibly disappointed but also acknowledged the impressive performance he had put on up until that point. Despite not achieving a perfect game, he still had a lot to be proud of in his near-perfect outing.
To Recap
Yu Darvish’s performance against the Houston Astros in April 2013 was a remarkable display of pitching excellence. Although he came just one out away from achieving a perfect game, his near-perfect game is still considered one of the most dominant pitching performances in baseball history.
Darvish’s near-perfect game also highlights the difficulty of achieving a perfect game, as it requires not only exceptional pitching ability but also some luck and the support of a strong defensive team.
Despite falling short of a perfect game, Darvish’s outing serves as a testament to the skill and dominance of the best pitchers in baseball.
