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Braden throws perfect game
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-11 09:13
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OAKLAND, California - Dallas Braden pitched a perfect game for the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in a 4-0 victory over Tampa Bay.
It was just the 19th perfect game in Major League Baseball history and the first since Mark Buehrle did it for the White Sox against the Rays on July 23 last year.
The only other Oakland pitcher to throw a perfect game was Hall of Famer Jim "Catfish" Hunter on May 8, 1968, against the Minnesota Twins.
When Gabe Kapler grounded out to the shortstop for the final out Braden lifted his arms in celebration.
"It's without a doubt a team effort," Braden said. "You got eight guys out there chasing balls and knocking balls down for me. So this is ours, not just mine, this is ours."
The closest Tampa Bay got to a hit was Jason Bartlett's line drive to third base to lead off the game.
When Evan Longoria tried to bunt against Braden to lead off the fifth, the sparse crowd jeered him.
Braden's gem was the second no-hitter this season after Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez pulled it off against Atlanta on April 17.
Braden's feat came on America's Mother's Day holiday, and when it was over he pointed to the sky in remembrance of his mother, Jodie Atwood, who died of cancer when he was in high school.
After he was swamped by teammates, Braden hugged his grandmother, Peggy Lindsey, in front of the dugout.
Before his performance on Sunday, Braden was best known for his angry reaction when Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez crossed the pitcher's mound on his way back to first base in a game on April 22.
While the squabble has lingered, Rodriguez said in Boston on Friday that at least Braden had done the Yankees a favor by beating Tampa Bay.
"I've learned in my career that it's always better to be remembered for some of the good things you do on the field, and good for him," Rodriguez said before the Yankees faced the Red Sox. "He threw a perfect game. And, even better, he beat the Rays."
