Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Perfection
Posted by Bryan SmithAs I write this, Randy Johnson has just finished pitching the game of his life, a perfect game. The Braves went down 27-for-27, including thirteen strikeouts. Johnson threw 117 pitches in this span, as he beat Mike Hampton, who threw a complete game himself. This is the sixteenth perfect game in Major League history, and the first since David Cone did it in 1999. Johnson was hitting 97 mph in the ninth, and his slider was eating hitters up.
At this point, I might just start watching TBS every time the Braves are on. This weekend I wrote about Ben Sheets' eighteen strikeout game against Atlanta, but Johnson topped him. Once I heard about it through Christian Ruzich, I turned on the game to see Johnson retire the final six. Congrats to Randy for the game of his life.
Bryan Smith, co-founder of Baseball Analysts, is a freelance writer with work appearing at SI.com, BaseballProspectus.com and Baseball America. Feel free to e-mail Bryan here, and look for his annual prospect list at SI.com next week.