Mark Buehrle Pitches Perfect Game

Sports Betting News - July 23rd, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

Chicago WhiteSox pitcher Mark Buehrle entered today's game with a record of 10-3 and an average ERA of 3.28. That didn't stop him form pitching a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this afternoon. It was only the 18th perfect game ever pitched in over 100 years of major league baseball. Mark Buehrle has already thrown one complete game shut out in his career and this marks the second time he has pulled off the historic feat.

It's been 5 years since baseball fans got a chance to witness a perfect game. Buehrle blessed us again today with a 5-0 win over the Rays in which he retired every batter in a row and, never faced more than three batters in a single inning. Mark Buerhle has spent his entire career with the Chicago WhiteSox and was apart of their World Series team just a few years back.

The perfect game was almost lost in the top of the 9th inning when Gabe Kapler stepped to the plate as the first batter of the inning. Kapler crushed a pitch and drove it to deep left-center, Dewayne Wise who came into the game as a defensive replacement chased the ball into the gap while it was still in the air, and on a full sprint leaped towards the wall snatching the ball as it breached over the top of the fencing. That play saved the perfect game and the shut out for Mark Buehrle.

After Gabe Kapler's exciting at bat, only two batters stood in the way of Buerhle and his perfect game. Stepping into the batters box next was Michel Hernandez who struck out giving Buehrle 6 punch outs on the day. The dangerous Jason Bartlett who is batting over 350. on the year grounded out to the short stop later in the inning for the last out of the ball game. Players rushed the mound and Mark Buehrle basked in greatness.