Jim Joyce Spoils Armando Galarraga Perfect Game

It would have been a perfect game for Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga, but first-base veteran umpire Jim Joyce just missed the call.

The Tigers led the Cleveland Indians, 3-0, with two out in the ninth inning when Jason Donald hit a grounder to first base. Replays showed that Galarraga, covering at first, got the throw from Miguel Cabrera and touched the base a stride ahead of Donald, but Joyce inexplicably called Donald safe. Galarraga retired the next batter for a one-hitter that should have been perfect.

The fans in Detroit booed Joyce throughout the final at-bat. Some free advice: Shave your mustache and get out of town as soon as possible.

To his credit, Joyce apologized after the game and admitted he blew the call.

“I’m not sure what to say right now other than that probably was the most important call of my career, and I missed it,” Joyce said as he paced voraciously in the umpires’ room at Comerica Park, arms crossed and voice cracking. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me, and I don’t know what to say.

“This isn’t (just) a call — this is a history call, and I kicked the (crap) out of it, and there’s nobody that feels worse than I do. I take pride in this job and I kicked the (crap) out of that (call), and I took a perfect game away from that kid over there who worked his (butt) off all night.”