Chicago Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly was awfully close to making history in Friday’s start against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field.
The veteran lefty was perfect for seven innings against the Dodgers’ high-powered lineup. Smyly took the mound for the top of the eighth, needing just six more outs to record the first perfect game in 11 years.
But in a cruel twist of fate, Smyly’s bid for a perfect game ended on a David Peralta infield single. At least, it was recorded as a single.
Peralta hit a short dribbler close to the third base line. Both Smyly and catcher Yan Gomes raced to field the ball, but they inadvertently wound up colliding on the play, and Peralta easily made it to first base to break up the perfect game.
A brutal way for a bid at history to end, no doubt, but Smyly’s incredible outing should still be applauded. He completed 7.2 innings of work and allowed just one hit on the day to go along with his 10 strikeouts.
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The Cubs made easy work of the struggling Dodgers, defeating them 13-0 to improve to 12-7 on the young season. The two teams will complete their four-game series on Sunday afternoon.
