Michael Kopek (27) of the Chicago White Sox delivered an amazing pitch that was close to a perfect game.
Kopek started the game against the Kansas City Royals held at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA on the 20th (Korean time) and became the winning pitcher with 1 hit and 10 strikeouts in 8 innings. The White Sox won 2-0.
Kopek, who continued his perfect pitching by recording 15 hits in a row until the 5th inning, allowed Michael Massey the only hit of the day in the 6th inning with one out. However, he ended the inning right away by inducing a double hit to Jackie Bradley Jr.
Even after that, Kopek did not send out a single runner until the 8th inning. In the ninth, Kendall Graveman took the mound and finished the game without letting a runner out. The White Sox pitching staff didn’t have a perfect game, but faced only 27 hitters and caught 27 outs.
MLB.com, the official major league media outlet, said, “This is the 73rd time (since 1900) in the American and National Leagues that only 27 batters have faced only 27 batters while allowing hits in 9 innings. The White Sox last achieved this mark on July 22, 2004, when Mark Burleigh gave up two hits in nine innings against Cleveland.”
Kopek said, “I knew I was heading towards the perfect game. I really didn’t pay attention to the record. Because I wasn’t focusing on the perfect game, I was able to focus on pitching right away. When I got a hit, the location was not good. That too is part of the game. I wasn’t perfect and that’s how it turned out.” 메이저놀이터
Coach Pedro Grifol replaced Kopek 9 times with 98 pitches. When asked if he would have continued to leave Kopec on the mound had the perfect game been going on, Manager Grifol replied, “Yes.” Kopek laughed, saying, “I almost kicked Graveman out with the gloves.”