Memo to Dallas Braden: Here’s what perfect-game pitchers did in their next start
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Dallas Braden of the Oakland A’s will go against the Angels on Friday night in his first start since his perfect game last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays. There have been 16 other perfect games since 1901 in major league history. Here’s a look at what those pitchers did in their next start:
Cy Young
Perfect game: May 5, 1904
Next game: Pitched six hitless innings but had no decision in a 1-0, 15-inning game.
Addie Joss
Perfect game: Oct. 2, 1908
Next game: Pitched in 4-2 victory on opening day in 1909.
Charlie Robertson
Perfect game: April 30, 1922
May 4, 1922: Loss, 6 innings pitched, 9 hits, 4 earned run, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts
Don Larsen
Perfect game: Oct. 8, 1956
April 20, 1957: No decision, 1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Jim Bunning
Perfect game: June 21, 1964
June 26, 1964: No decision, 7 IP, 11 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Sandy Koufax
Perfect game: Sept. 9, 1965
Sept. 14, 1965: Loss, 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Jim “Catfish” Hunter
Perfect game: May 8, 1968
May 14, 1968: Win, 6 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
Len Barker
Perfect game: May 15, 1981
May 20, 1981: Loss, 9 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Mike Witt
Perfect game: Sept. 30, 1984
April 9, 1985: Loss, 7.2 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Tom Browning
Perfect game: Sept. 16, 1988
Sept. 21, 1988: Win, 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Dennis Martinez
Perfect game: July 28, 1991
Aug. 2, 1991: No decision, 7 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Kenny Rogers
Perfect game: July 28, 1994
Next start: Loss, 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
David Wells
Perfect game: May 17, 1998
May 23, 1998: Win, 7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
David Cone
Perfect game: July 18, 1999
July 23, 1999: No decision, 4 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
Randy Johnson
Perfect game: May 18, 2004
May 23, 1994: Win, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Mark Buerhle
Perfect game: July 23, 2009
July 28, 2009: Loss, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Note: Buerhle pitched 5 2/3 perfect innings to start the game.
Totals: 4-6 record, 4.56 earned-run average.
-- Houston Mitchell