Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce meet again.
↵Just a little more than two years ago, Galarraga pitched a "near-perfect" game against the Indians. Galarraga was playing for the Tigers at the time and was having an extremely lucky day, as he managed to retire the first 26 batters he faced.
↵It was clearly lucky because Galarraga did this with only three strikeouts, just as many as his counter that day, Fausto Carmona, who gave up nine hits and three runs (two earned) in eight innings. That luck resulted in perfection on the part of Galarraga and the Tigers' defense, but the only thing that wasn't perfect was JIm Joyce, a veteran umpire who was working first base that game.
↵He made a bad call at the end of what was supposed to be a perfect game and the fallout was extreme. Now it's looked at as one of the most interesting moments in baseball history, given the fact that Galarraga would have been the third MLB pitcher to throw a perfect game within the past month. Roy Halladay and Dallas Braden had done it already.
↵Joyce is working home plate third base tonight in Atlanta when Galarraga makes his second start of the season for the Astros. Galarraga is pitching for what is officially the worst team in baseball.