Yusmeiro Petit One Pitch Shy of Perfect Game
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Baseball/Red Stitches and Morning/iStockphoto(SAN FRANCISCO) — Yusmeiro Petit was one pitch away from a perfect game until pinch hitter Eric Chavez lined a ball just beyond the reach of outfielder Hunter Pence on Friday night to break up the shot at history.
Petit struck out seven in the Giants 3-0 win over the Diamondbacks and became the 12th player to lose a perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning and second this year, (Yu Davish of the Rangers).
“It doesn’t get any closer than that,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “A strike away and a couple feet away from catching it. Just a beautiful game that he pitched.”
Pence did all he could on the short-hop and preserved Tim Lincecum’s no-hitter back in July with a great catch.
“The last two outs, it can go either way,” Petit said through an interpreter. “I went to 3-2 count. I just wanted to throw a good pitch. Chavez got the hit.”
Pence was asked about the play after the game.
“I gave it my best effort, but it wasn’t enough,” Pence said. “A low liner in front of me. I felt when it was hit I was in a dream where I could not run fast enough. Off the bat, it looked a little short.”
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