The Baltimore Orioles’ rookie pitcher, Brandon Young, faced a heartbreaking moment in his quest for a perfect game, ultimately defeating the Houston Astros 7-0 on Friday. Young, 26, was just four outs away from making history when he encountered a setback involving Astros second baseman Ramon Urias.
With a 2-2 count, Young delivered a changeup outside the plate, prompting Urias to connect with a grounder that skimmed past the pitcher’s mound and hugged the third base line. Pressured by Urias’ speed, Young attempted to grab the ball with his bare hand, but his throw to first base went awry, allowing Urias to reach base safely. The play was scored as a hit for Urias but also marked an error for Young, facilitating Urias’ advance to second base because of the wild throw.
“I thought I could make the play,” Young reflected post-game. “I was at the right spot. I think I could’ve taken another step for a better throw, but I rushed it.” After that slip, Young regained composure, striking out the Astros’ center fielder, Taylor Trammell, to end the inning. Remarkably, throughout eight innings, Young only allowed one hit to Urias and matched a personal best for strikeouts.
“He was hitting his spots,” he noted about his performance. “I believe he executed his game plan effectively.” Young was definitely aware of the perfect game situation unfolding. “It’s hard not to think about it,” he admitted. “Just trying to take it one pitch at a time, calming my breathing and staying focused.”
Young hails from Lumberton, Texas, located about 100 miles northeast of Houston. His family, including his parents and grandfather, were present at Daikin Park, a place where he began playing baseball at the age of five.
The Orioles, with a record of 56-66, are set to face the Astros again for the second game of their three-game series on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
