San Francisco Giants History: Matt Cain Throws Perfect Game
The 2012 season may well be remembered as the Year of the Perfect Game. On this day, San Francisco Giants starter Matt Cain threw the second perfect game of the year, and the 22nd in MLB history.
Only once in MLB history had two perfect games been thrown in the same year. Back in 1880, Lee Richmond threw the first perfect game, shutting down the Cleveland Blues on June 12. Just five days later, Monte Ward threw the second perfect game ever, as his Providence Grays defeated the Buffalo Bisons 5-0.
Fast forward 130 years. Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay each threw a perfect game in 2010, matching that mark set by Richmond and Ward. It took just two more years before two pitchers would throw a perfect game in the same season. After Philip Humber surprisingly turned the trick on April 21, San Francisco Giants starter Matt Cain fired one of his own on this day.
Cain was an absolute force on the mound. He tied Sandy Koufax‘s record by striking out 14 batters, recording a strikeout in all but the ninth inning. Despite throwing 125 pitches, Cain only had three three ball counts, as he was able to get ahead and dispatch the competition.
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It was the perfect exclamation point to what would be his finest season. Cain made his third All Star Game, posting a 16-5 record with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.040 WHiP. In his 219.1 innings, he struck out 193 batters with just 51 walks. He appeared to be on his way to a solid career, and to be a nice option behind Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum.
However, that would be his final year as an effective pitcher. Since that 2012 campaign, Cain struggled, posting a 19-34 record with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.349 WHiP. He has dealt with injuries over the past five seasons, making 30 starts only once in that time frame.
Cain’s perfect game was not the last one of the season. Just over two months later, Felix Hernandez shut down the Tampa Bay Rays, firing the third perfect game of the year. That outing would also be the last perfect game in the majors to this point.
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On this day in 2012, San Francisco Giants starter Matt Cain threw the 22nd perfect game in MLB history. That would be one of his last hurrahs before injuries derailed his career.