Matt Cain has thrown three one-hitters in his career, coming close but never getting the elusive no-hitter. Through seven innings in San Francisco on Monday, Matt Cain has not allowed a baserunner. And -- ho, man -- did he need some help getting there.
Matt Cain Perfect Through 7
Jordan Schafer led off the seventh and worked Cain to a full count. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Schafer hit a ball to right-center that probably would have left most of the ballparks in either league. Right fielder Gregor Blanco, though, made a diving catch almost in centerfield. Every no-hitter or perfect game has one of these plays.
Cain then struck out Jose Altuve looking for the second out, and then ended the inning striking out Jed Lowrie with a changeup, which gave Cain a career high in strikeouts with 13.
If there’s a concern for Cain, it’s his pitch count, which stands at 103 after the seventh. Cain’s career high is 131, though, and Bruce Bochy isn’t shy about stretching Cain out a little bit.
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