A pitcher threw seven dominant innings of four-hit ball, allowing only six base runners and striking out eight. And nobody remembers those stats of White Sox starter Hector Santiago, because Matt Harvey of the New York Mets nearly pitched a perfect game. Harvey went nine innings, striking out 12 and allowing only one hit—an infield single to Alex Rios with two outs in the seventh inning.
The game was a battle of offensive ineptitude at its finest, with the Mets tallying the only two offensive “threats” of the game, including when pinch hitter Mike Baxter singled home Ike Davis for the game-winning and game’s only run in the 10th inning.
In fact, Harvey only needed 105 pitches to get through nine innings, being extremely efficient, attacking the lack of patience and plate discipline of White Sox hitters that fans have seen all year long.
Santiago was nearly as good, escaping the only jam he faced in the second inning, when Ruben Tejada grounded out to third base with runners on second and third with two out.
Santiago threw 111 pitches, a good sign for sure that he can be counted on as a starting pitcher after starting the year as the long man in the bullpen. While it was a loss, Santiago’s start is the silver lining, as he proved her very well is capable (on good nights) of replacing Gavin Floyd in the rotation.
Up Next: Jake Peavy makes his return for the White Sox against Jeremy Hefner of the Mets in the conclusion of the brief two-game series.