San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain has thrown the first perfect game in Giants history, and the 22nd perfect game in Major League history.
Cain struck out a career high 14 in his 125-pitch masterpiece, beating the Houston Astros 10-0.
“This is incredible right now,” Cain said . “It was unbelievable. The guys did a great job making it, in a way, kind of relaxing, because they were able to get on the board early.”
Cain dominated most of the game, but had major support on two spectacular catches in the outfield to help maintain his quest to make history with the Giants organization.
The first scare came in the sixth-inning when Chris Snyder hit a deep fly ball to left fielder Melky Cabrera. The Giants left-fielder dashed back and made a leaping catch at the wall.
The second came in the very next inning as right fielder Gregor Blanco made an absolutely remarkable diving catch at the warning track to preserve the perfect game. When Blanco came up with the ball, Cain threw his hands up in disbelief that his teammate was able to make the play.
“Those were unbelievable catches,” Cain said . “I mean that right there, that changes the whole thing.”
When asked whether or not he was aware that his making a run at history, Cain admits that he was certainly conscious of the fact.
“I know when I haven’t given up a hit, I’m always conscious of it,” Cain said. “Probably the first time through the lineup I felt like I had good stuff. The first time through the lineup I felt like something could happen.”
Matt Cain joins Chicago White Sox pitcher Phillip Humber as the most recent duo to throw a perfect game in the same year, making it the second time to happen in three years. The only other time two pitchers have thrown a perfect game in the same season was in 1880.
What did you think of Matt Cain’s dominant performance in last night’s perfect game?
