Colon vs Verlander

April 15 2018 Jackie Robinson days as both teams wear the #42 to honor the late great legend. Today we have the greatest pitching match up in the early season.

Even with Colon being a former Cy Young winner no one thought that the 44 year old would stand a chance against the World Champs. Vegas had them at +280 odds before the 1st pitch. But this game was almost "perfect" in some ways.

After Justin got a quick one-two-three inning. And here comes "Big Sexy". While throwing his fastest pitch of the year (92MPH) he got out Springer, Bregman, and got the former AL MVP looking for a strike three. In the Second things were about the same Verlander got a 3 up 3 down inning just to be matched by Colon.

In the 3rd Verlander gave up a home run that JUST stayed fair for the 1st hit in the game. The only hit till the 8th inning. Verlander got the next 3 guys out to retire the side. From then on it was a duel. Both pitcher hitting there spots and nether showing signs of giving up.

After Verlander retired the side in the 8th he was done for the night with a stat line looking like it was out of a video game. Colon was heading into the 8th with a perfect game on the line. After a walk and then a Double to former team mate Reddick the No No was over. He gave up a sac fly and then got Gonzalez to pop up to center for his final out of the day.

Both pitcher had almost identical state lines

Verlander 8.0IP 1ER 1H 1BB

Colon 7.2IP 1ER 1H 1BB

Today was a special day for many reasons with this being the 1st time since 1982 and only the 5th time since 1908 that two pitcher went 7.2+ innings with 1 hit or fewer. Colon is now the oldest pitcher to take a perfect game into the 9th inning.

As Colon was coming off the field he told Reddick that "You were supposed to at least roll over it and not pull it like that"

This game was one for the ages and proves why baseball is for everyone