Galarraga loses perfect game for umpire’s wrong decision
Armando Galarraga pulled the ball with his glove, stood on first base with his right foot and got ready to celebrate.
What happened then feed into the discussions about baseball for the rest of the season and it is possible that much longer: the perfect game that came to be.
The umpire Jim Joyce scored an emphatic safe, Detroit Tigers discussed and a chorus of groans and boos were heard at Comerica Park.
Then Joyce said emphatically that he was wrong and, with tears in his eyes, hugged and apologized Galarraga.
“It was the most important decision of my career,” said Joyce, who looked broken. “I just take a perfect game that kid.”
“I thought (the broker) had arrived before the shot. He was convinced that came before, until I saw the replay,” he said after the Tigers’ 3-0 victory.
The Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said Joyce was asked to speak to Galarraga, who was denied the first perfect game in the history of the Tigers. The Venezuelan appreciated the gesture.
“I do not see that one umpire after the game come and say ‘Hey, let me say I’m sorry,’” said Galarraga. “He felt really bad. Not even showered.”
It is unusual for an umpire to admit an error and one of the few sports that depend heavily on the human eye, is almost certainly prompt a move to that often used repetition. Red Sox vs. Twins Tickets
Major League Baseball chose not to testify about the decision to Joyce.
“I’m sad,” said Galarraga. “I just saw the replay 20 times and there is no way to sing it still.” Red Sox vs. Tigers Tickets
The 28 year-old pitcher trying to throw the third perfect game in the majors this season.
Galarraga (2-1) maintained total control of the action from the mound and was moving smoothly toward the perfect game. But Donald’s homer in the ninth became the crucial play of the night. Boston Red Sox Tickets at Fenway Park
