This was the third perfect game of the 2012 Major League Baseball season, following perfect games thrown by Philip Humber and Matt Cain, marking the first time that three perfect games were thrown in one MLB season. Also, as the Mariners were the losing team in Humber's perfect game, this was the first time that a team was on the losing and winning end of a perfect game in the same season. As Philip Humber's perfect game took place when the White Sox were visiting Safeco Field, this marked the first time two perfect games were thrown in the same park in the same season. It also marked the third time the Tampa Bay Rays had been on the receiving end of a perfect game in four seasons, having previously failed to reach first base against Dallas Braden in 2010 and Mark Buehrle in 2009.
As it pertains to this season this is the 6th total no-hitter throw this year and the 2nd one by the Mariners. Back on June 8th, six Mariners pitchers, Kevin Millwood, Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League, and Tom Wilhelmsen combined to no-hit the LA Dodgers at Safco Field in Seattle. This is also the fourth no-hitter in Mariners History. The two that have taken place this year follow the ones thrown by Randy Johnson on June 2nd 1990 against the Detroit Tigers and the other one thrown by Chris Bosio on April 22nd 1993 against the Boston Red Sox. As for the Tampa Bay Rays this is the fourth time they have been no-hit since the turn of the century. The first was a no-hitter by Derek Lowe of the Boston Red Sox on April 27th 2002. Second was a perfect game from Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox on July 23rd 2009. The last time the Rays were no-hit before last night was June 25th, 2010 when Edwin Jackson of the Arizona Diamondbacks threw a no-hitter against his former team. So the Rays have had some bad luck when it comes to no hitters.
Now here are a few surprising numbers related to no hitters and perfect games. Since the start of the 2010 season there have been a total of 15 no hitters thrown, including the one Roy Halladay threw for the Phillies in the 2010 playoffs. This is also the 2nd straight perfect game thrown this season, the last one being Matt Cain's back on June 13th. Of the 235 no hitters that have been thrown in the modern era 30 of them have come since the turn of the century in 2000. So now we are starting to see more of a trend towards pitchers dominating the game instead of hitters like we had in the live ball era of the late 90's.
For the Mariners this has to be the crowning achievement this year of what has been another underachieving season. The team sits in last right now in the American League West with a record of 67-95. Hernandez is by far the tams best pitcher without a doubt and he is looking to possibly win another AL Cy Young but with pitching being as good as it has been around the American League that is going to be tough. Part of me does sort of feel bad for King Felix because he really is a very good pitcher, one of the top ten in my opinion in the American League maybe even all of Baseball. The only down side is he pitches for a really bad team in the Mariners. In the club's 33 year history they have only made they playoffs five times and they have had only two winning seasons since 2003. So despite the fact that he pitches for a bad team congratulations are indeed in order for Felix Hernandez for pitching the 23ed Perfect Game in Major League History!
