Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was only one out away when a missed call ruined his chances at pitching a perfect game. For 8 2/3 innings, Galarraga did not allow a single player to reach base… that was until Jason Donald came up to bat and hit a ground ball towards first.
Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabera fielded the ball then threw it to Galarraga, who was covering first, to get the out…. or at least what Galarraga thought was the out. Umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe much to the dismal of Galarraga, Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland, and the 18,000 fans at Comerica Park.
The Tigers ended up getting the next batter out and won the game 3-0, but after the game Joyce admitted he made the wrong call. “It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the (stuff) out of it. I just cost that kid a perfect game,” Joyce said. “I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw until I saw the replay.”
Only 20 pitchers in MLB history have pitched a perfect game. What is the difference between a no-hitter and a perfect game? In a no hitter, no batter reaches base on a hit. However, a batter can get on base if he is walked or reaches on an error. In a no-hitter… like the one Galarraga was robbed of, there are no base runners at all.
Despite the odds being against him, my advice to Galarraga is to make sure Joyce isn’t calling his next game.
Red Wings Captain, Nick Lidstrom’s contract had expired, and the 6-time Norris Trophy winner for best defenseman was contemplating retirement. If the Red Wings lost Steve Yzerman and Lidstrom in less than a week apart… I would question Sid Abel’s hockey god intentions. Luckily, Lidstrom signed a one year contract extension worth $7 million. 
Former NY Giants running back Tiki Barber was banned from the delivery room during the birth of his twin daughters. Apirl’s Jersey Chaser of the Month was Tiki Barber homewrecker, 23-year old Traci Lynn Johnson. Johnson broke up Tiki’s 11-year marriage with wife Ginny. Tiki and Ginny were college sweethearts where they met at the University of Virginia. The couple have two sons and were expecting twins when Ginny found out abuot Tiki’s affair with the NBC intern (Tikki is a correspondent for the Today Show). While Tiki was banned from the delivery room, he was at the hospital and did see the twin girls after they were born. Wonder if Johnson will be on diaper duty…?