Recap: Chicago WSox vs. Tampa Bay
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Mark Buehrle became the first pitcher in
the majors to throw a perfect game since Randy Johnson performed the feat
on May 18, 2004, as the White Sox blanked the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-0, in the
finale of a four-game set at U.S. Cellular Field.
It was just the 18th perfect game in the history of Major League
Baseball. The last White Sox hurler to toss a perfect game was Charles
Robertson on August 30, 1922 against the Detroit Tigers.
Ironically, Buehrle was the last White Sox pitcher to throw a
no-hitter. Buehrle completed the amazing task on April 18, 2007 against
the Texas Rangers.
The right-hander became just the second Chicago pitcher to toss two no-
hitter's in his career. Frank Smith did so in 1905 and 1908.
"I don't think it's really sunk in," said Buehrle. "It'll probably soak
in a little later. Obviously anytime your name gets up there with some of
the greats in the game, it obviously means a lot."
Buehrle's perfect game appeared to be in danger when Gabe Kapler
blasted an offering to deep center in the ninth. But Dewayne Wise, in as a
defensive replacement, made a spectacular catch at the wall to keep the
perfect game alive. Wise, who climbed the wall and made a jumping grab,
almost lost the ball as he fell to the ground.
The final two outs were less dramatic for Buehrle, who fanned Michel
Hernandez to get within one out of history. Buehrle pulled off the rare
feat by getting Jason Bartlett to ground out.
"I was trying to take it one batter at a time, pitch by pitch," said
Buehrle. "If you start thinking about that, telling yourself you've got a
no-hitter, a perfect game, whatever, you're going to mess up a pitch or
make mistakes. I tried not to think about it and have fun."
Buehrle's day got even better following the contest, as he got a
surprise phone call from President Barack Obama, who is a native of
Chicago.
Buehrle (11-3) fanned six batters on Thursday to improve to 7-1 in 12
U.S. Cellular Field starts this season.
Scott Kazmir (4-6) allowed five runs on five hits with five strikeouts
in six innings to take the loss for Tampa Bay.
Josh Fields' grand slam in the second and a Alexei Ramirez RBI double
in the fifth gave Buehrle more than enough room to work with.
Paul Konerko singled, Carlos Quentin walked, and Ramon Castro singled
to load the bases with two outs in the second. Fields then stepped to the
plate and cleared the bases with a towering drive over the wall in
left.
Ramirez drove in Scott Podsednik, who doubled, with a two-bagger in the
fifth to cap the scoring in the tilt.
Buehrle was rolling from the beginning of the contest. He threw 76
strikes (116 total pitches) and got 11 ground outs, compared to 10
flyouts.
"A.J. (Pierzynski) came up to me yesterday and said 'you have your
personal catcher catching you.' It's kind of a long-time running joke
we've had," said Buehrle. "He's like, 'just go out there and throw a
no-hitter. I said 'for what, I already have one of those. He said go out
there and throw a perfect game.This was all before the game even
started."
This was the second no-hitter of the season, as San Francisco's
Jonathan Sanchez tossed one versus the Padres on July 10. Previous to
that, Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs threw a no-hitter on September
14, 2008 against Houston.
Chicago 5, Tampa Bay 0 
Rays batting 
White Sox batting