The Tampa Bay Rays were one inning away from making history earlier this afternoon. Tampa Bay was on the cusp of becoming the first team ever to combine to throw a perfect game against the Baltimore Orioles after eight innings of perfect baseball. Unfortunately, the bid ended after just one pitch in the ninth inning.
In the history of Major League Baseball, nearly 220,000 games, never before has there been a combined perfect game.
The Tampa Bay Rays are three outs from one. Baltimore remains without a baserunner, and Ryne Stanek (two IP) and Ryan Yarbrough (six IP) have set down 24 straight.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 14, 2019
Ryne Stanek started the day for the Rays. He pitched two innings of perfect baseball before giving way to Ryan Yarbrough, who did yeoman’s work over the next six innings. Yarbrough didn’t allow a baserunner and struck out six batters heading into the ninth inning, sending a buzz through the baseball world.
24 up, 24 down.
A team record for consecutive batters retired, and consecutive batters retired to begin a game. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/JrbZ2SNarw
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 14, 2019
The perfect game wasn’t meant to be though. The Rays shifted their fielders left when Baltimore’s Hanser Alberto came to the plate, trying to ensure the predominately pull hitter couldn’t rip one between short and third. However, the move backfired as Alonso meekly put a ball away from the shift and secured a single to break up the perfect game and the no hitter to boot.
Hanser Alberto breaks up @Raysbaseball's perfect game in the top of the 9th with a single through the right side.
Catch @RaysBaseball on FOX Sports Sun 📺 l FOX Sports Go.📱#RaysUp #MLB pic.twitter.com/gdFUCGdH7F
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) July 14, 2019
The Rays’ Twitter account had the perfect response to the moment.
Shift happens. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/J8Ecp6EnvH
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 14, 2019
Tampa Bay ran into a little bit of trouble trying to close out the game from there. Baltimore added two more hits, and Emilio Pagan had to come on to shut down the comeback bid after Trey Mancini came to the plate as the game-tying run. Pagan rung up Mancini to end the threat and give the Rays the win.
With the victory, Tampa Bay moved to 55-40 on the season. The Rays have a slight lead over Oakland for the first Wildcard spot in the American League, but they are holding out hope they can catch the New York Yankees. Tampa Bay is currently six games behind the Yankees in the standings, but the Rays have the best road record in baseball.
H/T MLB.com
