Max Scherzer had a perfect game working for 8 and two-thirds innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates — and he was doing so in just 94 pitches. 26 hitters came up and 26 were put down by Scherzer until pinch-hitter Jose Tabata came to the plate.
Tabata had a strong at-bat, fouling off a number of pitches and forcing Scherzer to work. Eventually, Scherzer backed up a slider on the inside that Tabata appeared to dip his elbow into, ending the perfect game bid. Scherzer got the next guy to fly out, preserving the no-hitter, but it lacked some of the excitement because of how close it was to a perfect game.
Scherzer said he didn't blame Tapata for the hit by pitch after the game, but it's hard to look at that video and not think he dropped his elbow into the path of the ball.
Tabata
