Clay Buchholz Nearly Perfect Against the Bats and then…UH YUMP!!!

On a Memorial Day afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field, Clay Buchholz was nearly perfect.  He retired the first 24 batters he faced and went to the ninth, staring perfection square in the face.  Perfect games are rare.  Be it in the International League, the Big Leagues, or the SALLY League, perfect games are special.

The last perfect game in the International Leauge was also thrown by a Pawtucket Red Sock.  Bronson Arroyo did it on August 10, 2003 as he mowed down all 27 batters he faced in a 7-0 victory over Buffalo at McCoy Stadium.

What made this story even more interesting was the fact that Buchholz had already thrown a no-hitter, of the Major League variety.  On September 1, 2007, in just his second big league start, he tossed a no-no as the Red Sox downed the Orioles 10-0 at Fenway Park.

He entered the ninth with an opportunity to throw the first perfect game and no-hitter in the history of Louisville Slugger Field.  On the first pitch of the inning, Danny Richar lined a shot right past the third baseman, ending the threat.  Buchholz then retired the next three batters he faced.

The man was one out away from a perfect game.  In a perfect game, one must retire all 27 batters that he faces.  One away from 27 is the number 26.

Speaking of #26, Clay Buchholz is currently dating the Deal or No Deal model who carries around Case #26 with her.  Does this prove that chicks are curses?  If so, it’s probably still worth it.

Lindsay Clubine, aka #26…UH YUMP!!!