Perfection Averted

Yesterday, Curt Schilling nearly threw a perfect game against the Oakland A's, as the Red Sox tried to avoid getting swept. The perfect game ended when the Sox short stop made an error (though if it wasn't a hit or a walk, why does it end a pitcher's performance from being perfect?), but Curt took his no-hitter into the 9th inning. The hosts on ESPN radio gave a bit of play by play for the last inning, and with 2 outs Shannon Stewart hit a solid single.

How could this have ended better? The score was only 1-0, so any strategy that might get one run should be considered. Given that this is Curt Shilling though, the best ending would have been for Shannon Stewart to bunt for a single, ending the no-hit bid in a way that would have really pissed Curt off and made him lose his cool. Mark Ellis, the next hitter, takes a poorly placed fastball over the wall, and the A's win 2-1.

Of course, it didn't happen that way. Curt kept himself together after the single, and Mark Ellis popped out, and the Sox won 1-0. The A's did take 3 out of 4 from the best team in baseball, and might start to make up some of the ground against the division leading Angels.