Matt Cain threw baseball's 22nd perfect game. It was the season's second perfect game and the first of his career. The San Francisco Giants knocked off the Houston Astros 10-0 Wednesday night.
In front of a home crowd, Cain was completely dominant. His pitching line was immaculate; 9 IP, 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 0 walks and 14 strikeouts.
The perfect game was tampered with in the seventh inning when Jordan Schafer laced a ball to deep right-center field. Rightfielder Gregor Blanco tracked it down and made a spectacular grab in the warning track.
With this dominant performance, Matt Cain proves that he is the undisputable ace of the San Francisco Giants.
He has placed himself at the top of the Giants' pitching staff since Tim Lincecum is not the same pitcher who won the Cy Young in 2008 and 2009.
In 2012, Lincecum has a 6.00 ERA and only has two wins. He has allowed four runs or more in 9 of his 13 starts.
Cain is tied for the team lead with eight wins. He also leads the team in innings pitched with 95, strikeouts with 96 strikeouts and has a 2.18 ERA, lowest in the team.
The fact that the Giants were willing to extend Cain also proves that he is the guy the team wants to stay for the long run.
At the beginning of the season, Cain received a six-year extension keeping him with the club through the 2018 season.
With Lincecum, it is always a battle on whether to extend him for one or two seasons. Discussions are never long term.
Even with Lincecum's struggles, the Giants find themselves within striking distance of the first place Los Angeles Dodgers. They are only 3.5 games out.
Their young pitching staff always gives them a chance to win, all except for Tim Lincecum, their former ace.
Cain's perfect game not only places him atop in the Giants' pitching staff, but it writes him in with baseballs' greatest. His 14 strikeouts tied him with Sandy Koufax for the most strikeouts in a perfect game.
Baseball continues to have excellent pitching. This is the fifth no-hitter of the season.
Philip Humber threw a perfect game in Seattle. The Mariners pitching staff then combined to no-hit the Los Angeles Angels. Angel's currently injured ace, Jered Weaver, threw one against the Twins and former Twins pitcher, Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in the Mets' franchise.
With this incredible pitching performance, Matt Cain also became the first Giants pitcher to throw a perfect game.
After completing such a feat, Cain will now focus on getting his team back in the playoffs.
