This morning I woke up to see the Internet a-buzzin’ about the Phillies/Giants game last night due to the extraordinary performances turned in by the pitchers, the Phillies’ Cliff Lee and the Giants‘ Matt Cain. Upon seeing their lines (10/7/0/0/7 for Lee and 9/2/0/1/4 for Cain), I immediately thought back to the greatest pitching duel I have ever seen: Andy Benes and Bret Saberhagen trading zeros in the second half of a doubleheader on July 15, 1994 at Shea Stadium.
Before I get into the game, a quick summary of the background is necessary. Every summer, my father, a Pirates fan, used to take my brother and me to a Mets game and a Yankees game (my sister and mother would join us for the Yankees game) because (a) my brother and I are Mets fans and (b) New York was the closest city with a Major League team. Growing up in the Capitol Region, Boston was physically closer, but it was easier to get to the New York ballparks and, frankly, New York is a way better city. Anyway, we picked July 15 and 16 as games to go see because it allowed us to go to two games and see one of my father’s favorite players, Tony Gwynn (who had, as it turned out, a pretty good season). Due to a rain out, the July 15th game turned into the holy grail of baseball – the single admission doubleheader and we had tickets.
Perched in the upper deck, I took in all there was to take in during the first game, only removing my glove to keep book (I write righty and play sports lefty, so I need to remove my glove to write), we were treated to a 7-3 Mets win in the first game, led by 6.1 strong innings from Bobby Jones and a massive day from Bobby Bonilla (3/4, double, home run, 4 RBI). After convincing my father to purchase another Mets program so I could keep score for the second game (knowing my dad, it’s entirely possible that he bought me two when we got to the stadium), I diligently filled in the lineups for the second game and sat impatiently waiting for the second game to start. Little did I know that I was about to witness a game for the ages.
Through eight innings, Andy Benes and Brett Saberhagen were running through opposing lineups like they were filled with minor leaguers. Base runners were scarce, as Benes allowed only three batters to reach base (a pair of singles and a walk) in his eight innings, while Saberhagen allowed merely five batters (all singles) to reach base in his ten innings. After 127 pitches, Benes was pulled to start the eighth, with manager Jim Riggleman putting in his closer, Trevor Hoffman for the next two frames. Hoffman pitched well, striking out one, walking one (Bonilla, intentionally), and allowing one double (to Jose Vizcaino, no less) to get through two innings.
In the top of the 11th, John Franco came in to relieve Saberhagen, who had thrown 131 pitches. Franco pitched a “John Franco Inning,” immediately allowing a single to catcher Brian Johnson (who was immediately pinch run for by Brad Ausmus). After an Eddie Williams sacrifice, John Franco walked Bip Roberts, then got pinch-hitter Phil Clark to fly out to right, and Tony Gwynn to groundout to the second baseman. In the bottom of the 11th, Pedro Martinez (no, not that Pedro Martinez) came in to pitch and worked around a Jose Vizcaino single to end the 11th inning. Roger Mason pitched the 12th and 13th for the Mets, with Pedro Martinez pitching the 12th and Jeff Tabaka pitching the 13th for the Padres.
Still tied at zero, the Mets brought in Mike Maddux for the 14th. Maddux got Scott Livingstone to ground out to the first baseman, then immediately allowed Tony Gwynn and Phil Plantier to hit absolute bombs back-to-back to put the Padres up 2-0. Maddux then got Craig Shipley and Luis Lopez out to end the top of the 14th, but the fans, and the Mets, were deflated. Bobby Bonilla began the 14th by flying out to the centerfielder, followed by pinch hitter Luis Rivera singling to left field. David Segui, whose statistics indicate that he was better than I remember him being, followed up with a double to right field. Rivera scored on an error by the right fielder. Riggleman put on his thinking cap, and made a double switch, bringing in Tim Mauser to face Jeff Kent and Rico Brogna (Ricky Gutierrez came in to play short stop). Dallas Green countered, taking out Segui and putting in Fernando Vina to pinch run. Mauser got Kent to fly out to right and Brogna to ground out to the shortstop to end the game.
So what does this have to do with anything? The last time a pitcher went ten innings and his team lost? Bret Saberhagen on July 15, 1994. If you watch enough baseball, you will see something you have never seen before. If you watch more baseball, you’ll see it again.
Until next time, follow me @HypeProspect.
