We’ll have to wait at least a little longer to see another perfect game at the big league level.
Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen didn’t allow a base runner through eight innings before giving up a leadoff double in the ninth inning to the Orioles’ Jorge Mateo on Sunday at Tropicana Field.
Mateo moved to third on a groundout by Terrin Vavra in the second and came around to score on a wild pitch that would have hit Brett Phillips but advanced to first on third down.
This was Rasmussen’s last at-bat, but he received a standing ovation when he was pulled from the game. He allowed one hit and one earned run while striking out seven in 8 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old right-hander was remarkably efficient, throwing just 87 pitches, 62 of which were strikes.
Rays’ Drew Rasmussen pitching Sunday against the Orioles.USA TODAY Sports
The Rays held on to defeat the Orioles 4-1 as Rasmussen improved to 7-4 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.80.
The Rays’ victory in the rubber against the Orioles comes a day after the benches cleared in another Tampa win over Baltimore as the AL East foes battle for a wild-card spot.
The last perfect game in MLB came on August 15, 2012, when Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez went perfect against the Rays in Seattle.
Matt Garza remains the only Rays pitcher to ever throw a no-hitter.