Former Met Humber throws perfect game

Former Met Phil Humber, who had Tommy John surgery seven years ago, threw the first perfect game in the majors in almost two years, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners Saturday.

It was baseball's 21st perfect game and first since the Philadelphia Phillies' Roy Halladay threw one against the Florida Marlins on May 29, 2010. It was the third in White Sox's history, joining Mark Buehrle against Tampa Bay on July 23, 2009, and Charles Robertson against Detroit on April 30, 1922.

"This is awesome," Humber said. "I'm so thankful."

With the White Sox lined up on the top step of the dugout, Humber fell behind 3-and-0 to Michael Saunders leading off the ninth. But he rebounded to strike him out.

John Jaso then flied out before Brendan Ryan, another pinch hitter, struck out to end the game.

Ryan took a checked swing and missed at a full-count pitch, but the ball got away from catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Ryan lingered outside the batter's box for a minute, unsure of umpire Brian Runge's call, and Pierzynski fired to first to complete the play.

Humber, who was involved in a trade by the Mets for Johan Santana in 2008, fell to his knees when it was over, and his teammates rushed toward the mound to congratulate him.

"I don't know that I dominated them," Humber said. "Obviously, the ball was hit at people. I'm thankful for that. It was a well-pitched game. Definitely something I'll never forget."

The righthander struck out nine and threw just 96 pitches in his first career complete game. He went to a three-ball count only three times.

Humber was drafted No. 3 overall by the Mets out of Rice University in 2004. He reached the majors in 2006 but his career was sidetracked by the elbow injury.

He becomes the latest one-time Mets pitcher who went on to throw a no-hitter elsewhere, a group that includes Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Doc Gooden and David Cone. New York has never had a no-hitter in its 51-year history. The only other team without one is San Diego, which began play in 1969.

It was quite a contrast to his first start of the season, when he went 51/3 innings and threw 115 pitches in a no-decision against Baltimore on Monday.

Humber was traded from the Mets to the Twins in the deal for Santana, he bounced around for a couple of seasons and was acquired by the White Sox on waivers from Oakland in January 2011.

He was 9-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 163 innings last season, his first full season in the majors as a starter.

It was the majors' first no-hitter of the season. There were three last year: Francisco Liriano of Minnesota, Justin Verlander of Detroit, and Ervin Santana of the Los Angeles Angels.

-- AP