Minor League history: Three Muckdogs pitchers combine to throw a perfect game

Three Muckdogs pitchers combine for perfect game

By Michael Clair

June 25, 2015

On Wednesday night, 538 lucky Batavia, N.Y., residents got to witness history: Three Batavia Muckdogs, the Short-Season Class A affiliate of the Marlins, combined to pitch a perfect game. Those 538 people can now lord the experience over the town's residents for the rest of the summer, asking them "And just what were you up to on Wednesday? Doing laundry?"

Just the third perfect game in New York Penn League history (and just the sixth game of the season), three 21-year-old pitchers Gabriel Castellanos, Brett Lilek (a second-round Draft pick making his professional debut) and Steven Farnworth did something that has never been matched at the Major League level. The closest the Majors ever came to one was the debate over Ernie Shore's 26-out "perfect game" that was later officially classified as a no-hitter.

After Castellanos started the game, striking out 12 in seven innings, Lilek struck out the side in the eighth before Farnworth struck out one in his inning of work. What did it sound like in the end, though? Close your eyes and open your mind:

@SportsCenter #SC3stars 3 pitchers (Gabriel Castellanos, @BrettLilek, & @SFarny18) combined to throw a PERFECT GAME https://t.co/fJH5XHQYmx
- Batavia_Muckdogs (@BataviaMuckdogs) June 25, 2015

But if you need something to look at, why not gaze at this impeccably clean scorecard. You won't likely see many as simple as this one. After all, 16 of the 27 batters finished their at-bats with a strikeout.

VICTORY #1 IS PERFECT! Scorebook of broadcaster Brendan Glasheen (@BJ_Glash). pic.twitter.com/5q7bY6VAtF
- Batavia_Muckdogs (@BataviaMuckdogs) June 25, 2015

Said pitching coach Brendan Sagara:

"You're rooting for them and you know what good kids they are, and you just know a chance like this doesn't come around. You really want it for the kids, more than anything. You want your kids to be able to experience that and have that for the rest of their lifetime."