Baltimore Orioles rookie Brandon Young was closing in on a perfect game, a feat that had the entire stadium on the edge of their seats. However, it was not to be as he lost it in a cruel fashion on Friday, Aug. 15, resulting in the Houston Astros’ only hit in Baltimore’s 7-0 victory at Daikin Park.
In what was nearly eight flawless innings during his 11th career start, Young retired 23 Houston batters before allowing a two-out infield single in the eighth inning to Ramón Urías, a former Oriole who had been traded to the Astros. Urías hit a ground ball in Young’s vicinity, and although Young quickly fielded the ball, he threw wide of first base.
The error allowed Urías to advance to second base, ending what could have been a perfect game. The play was ruled a hit, ending Young’s no-hitter.
“I thought I could make the play,” Young said, according to MLB.com. “I got there in time. I think I had a little more time to maybe take a step and make a better throw. I obviously rushed it, yanked it. It sucks. Definitely want it back.”
Young got the final out of the inning and Baltimore’s Yaramil Hiraldo pitched the ninth as Young picked up the first victory of his career in a familiar spot. Young grew up in Texas and had gone to the Houston stadium as a child.