Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Rasmussen has perfect game broken up in 9th inning vs Orioles

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated 8/14/22

Drew Rasmussen on Sunday nearly threw Major League Baseball’s first perfect game in a decade, but the bid ended in the top of the ninth inning.

Rasmussen was perfect through eight innings against the Baltimore Orioles when shortstop Jorge Mateo belted a double down the third baseline. The hit came on the first pitch of the ninth inning.

Agony. pic.twitter.com/8tvu1uNDxi

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) August 14, 2022

Rasmussen had only 79 pitches at the time, so his pitch count was not an issue. He wound up allowing one earned run following a ground ball and wild pitch. The right-hander was then replaced by Jason Adam, who struck out the final two Orioles batters to preserve a 4-1 victory for the Rays. Rasmussen finished with seven strikeouts and allowed only the one hit over 8.1 innings.

There are typically multiple no-hitters per MLB season, but perfect games are a much more rare feat. Monday will mark 10-years since former Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game against — as luck would have it — the Rays.

Rasmussen was just three outs away, but MLB fans will have to keep waiting for the next perfect game.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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