I need to go pick some Lotto numbers!
I’ve lucked into calling two perfect games and a combined no-no in the 2012 MLB season. There was the April 21 perfecto thrown by the White Sox Philip Humber against the Mariners at Safeco Field, on Fox. Then there was the six-pitcher combined no-no thrown June 8th by the Mariners against the Dodgers, again, at Safeco Field.
The biggie was the August 15th epic by Felix Hernandez, a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays, again at the corner of Edgar and Dave.
Folks, the adrenalin rush in calling the Felix beauty was nothing I’ve experienced before. The Humber performance was AGAINST the Mariners. Being on Fox, I had to play it down the middle. It was still a thrill. In the Felix game, it was a Mariner, our ace, The King on the mound, at Safeco Field; emotionally this was the top of the mountain.
Felix was ridiculous. Unhittable.
After the game, I walked int0 the Mariners clubhouse. It was all upbeat and smiles.
“I’m watching in centerfield,” said the Mariners Michael Saunders. “And I knew a ball wasn’t going to be hit to me. They (the Rays) had no chance!”
Trayvon Robinson was in left field for the Mariners. He was asked what was he thinking going into the ninth inning? “I wanted the ball,” Robinson said. “I was going to run through the (bleeping) wall for that guy. He deserved it.”
On my way out of the Mariners clubhouse, I saw Rays manager Joe Maddon. I asked and he admitted that his seventh inning gamesmanship (and subsequent ejection) in beefing a pitch to Matt Joyce, didn’t work in throwing off Hernandez rhythm.
For Mariners fans, yes it finally happened–they saw one of their guys throw a perfect game. Anyone who’s been following the Mariners knows that it was just a matter of time before Felix eventually threw one.
Felix is a class act. I couldn’t be happier for him. I’m already looking forward to his next start Tuesday at Safeco Field against Cleveland.
Take a listen to three spots that I did on Thursday with local Seattle radio stations to talk about calling The King’s perfecto.
