Drew Smyly’s Perfect Game Ends on Ridiculously Stupid Hit

The Chicago Cubs have never thrown a perfect game in their entire franchise history and on Friday left-handed starting pitcher Drew Smyly looked destined to become the first to accomplish that feat. He retired the first 21 Los Angeles Dodgers in a row, but then David Peralta broke up the perfect game with a single to begin the eighth inning.

There have been a lot of brutal ways that perfect games have ended and this one is definitely going to be talked about for years. Smyly allowed one hard-hit ball the entire game, as he struck out 10 Dodgers and walked none. Peralta’s infield single had an exit velocity of 32.9 mph and it was perfectly rolled between third base and home because the play ended with catcher Yan Gomes barreling over Smyly in an attempt to get out of his way after both men sprinted toward the ball.

I mean, you can’t help but laugh because if we’re being honest, Smyly most likely wasn’t going to throw out Peralta at first base anyway.

And actually way more importantly, I’m glad that neither Gomes or Smyly were injured because that would have been the real shame.

Smyly recorded two more outs in the eighth inning before he was taken out.

Smyly has been amazing since his season debut against the Cincinnati Reds and he’s been doing it against some solid teams.

The 33-year-old lefty has seen his ERA drop down to 3.13 after his near perfect game on Friday.

Oh and by the way, this was the second consecutive time that Smyly has out pitched Dodgers ace Julio Urías.

Speaking of Urías, not only was he out pitched, he was crushed by the Cubs offense that has now scored 10+ runs six times in their first 19 games of the 2023 season. The Cubs scored 10+ runs six times all of last year.

Urías only lasted 3.1 innings on Friday, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and two walks. Prior to these last two starts against the Cubs, Urías had a 1.50 ERA in his first three outings for the Dodgers.

The box score looks incredible from the Cubs 13-0 win. Here are the guys who had the best performances.

Nico Hoerner: 4-for-5, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Patrick Wisdom: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Cody Bellinger: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 R

Trey Mancini: 3-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Seiya Suzuki went 2-for-4 with a walk and he’s the one who started off the scoring by ripping a two-run double to left center field in the first inning against Urías.

This team, yeah it’s OK to believe, this team is good.

The Cubs are now 12-7, winning five of their six, and 11 of their last 14. Oh and with a handful of more blowout wins this week, the Cubs now have the highest run different in the National League and are only second to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Yup, the Cubs are good.