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CLOSE
A
PERFECT
GAME,
KINDA
July 10,
2010
Illustration
by Chris
Visions
With two outs in the
ninth inning, Detroit’s
Armando Galarraga had
retired the first 26 Cleveland
batters in a row. Jason
Donald hit a weak ground
ball to the right side of the
infield, nabbed by Miguel
Cabrera. Galarraga raced
Donald to first base. Cabrera
threw the ball to the pitcher,
Galarraga stepped on the
base, and—safe?! First base
umpire Jim Joyce ruled
that the runner beat the
ball, leaving Cabrera with
his hands over his head in
disbelief and Galarraga with
a wry smile. Replay quickly
showed what Galarraga
knew: He had beat the
runner to first.
After the game, Joyce
admitted his mistake: “I
just cost the kid a perfect
game.” Galarraga was quick
to forgive, saying, “Nobody’s
perfect” and giving Joyce a
hug. The next day, Galarraga
presented the lineup card to
Joyce, and they shook hands.
Galarraga and Joyce have
since asked MLB to award
the perfect game.