Best Pitching Performances of 2010

SI Staff | Oct 8, 2010

Best Pitching Performances of 2010

Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies

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The Rockies' 26-year-old ace set the tone for the Year of the Pitcher by tossing his first career no-hitter against the Braves in Atlanta. Jimenez had seven strikeouts and six walks, but retired the last 15 batters he faced. Through June 14, Jimenez led the NL in both wins (12) and ERA (1.16).

Dallas Braden, A's

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Until tossing a perfect game against baseball's best team, Braden was most known for a highly publicized feud with Yankees' slugger Alex Rodriguez over an unwritten rule. With his performance against the Rays, he earned not only headlines but also a permanent place in baseball history. On Mother's Day, with his grandmother looking on, Braden retired all 27 batters, recording the 19th perfect game in MLB history. He had six strikeouts and needed just 109 pitches to retire the Rays in order.

Johnny Cueto, Reds

AP

In this one-hit gem, Cueto pitched his first career complete game, striking out eight Pirates and walking none. The only blemish on the 24-year-old right-hander's scorecard was a third-inning hit from Ronny Cedeno that brushed off shortstop Paul Janish's glove.

Mat Latos, Padres

AP

Talk about a complete game: Latos just about won this contest singlehandedly for San Diego. He one-hit the Giants, allowing only a sixth-inning single off a comebacker to the mound he couldn't handle cleanly. And at the plate with two outs in the fifth inning, he drove in the game's lone run with a single.

Matt Cain, Giants

AP

Matt Cain was a hit away from perfection as the right hander dominated the Diamondbacks, striking out 9 in a 5-0 win. The only blemish was a double by Mark Reynolds in the second inning as Cain was able to go wire to wire in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Through June 14, Cain ranked second in the NL in complete games (3) and shutouts (2) and fifth in ERA (2.05).

Roy Halladay, Phillies

AP

Halladay faced 27 Marlins and retired them all to complete the 20th perfect game in Major League history. Halladay dominated the inside corner with his fastball, striking out 11. Through June 14, Halladay was 8-4 with a 1.96 ERA.

Armando Galarraga, Tigers

AP

The 28-year-old Venezuelan pitched what will go down in history as a 28-out perfect game against the Indians. With two outs in the ninth, first base umpire Jim Joyce erroneously called Cleveland's Jason Donald safe at first base. Galarraga retired the next hitter to end the game, settling for the 1-hit shutout and complete game victory.

Stephen Strasburg, Nationals

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In perhaps the most hyped pitching debut in baseball history, Strasburg, the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft, electrified a sold out crowd at Nationals Park by striking out 14 and walking none in eight innings of four-hit ball. It was the most strikeouts ever without a walk in a major league debut and the second-most K's by a pitcher in his first game. Strasburg struck out the final seven batters he faced. Through his first two big league starts, Strasburg was 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 22 strikeouts against just five walks.

Matt Garza, Rays

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The Tampa Bay Rays finally wound up on the right side of a memorable pitching performance. Matt Garza threw the first no-hitter in franchise history and the fifth in the major leagues this season, beating the Detroit Tigers 5-0. The 26-year-old right-hander faced the minimum 27 batters in his 106th career start, allowing only a second-inning walk to Brennan Boesch. It's only the third time in major league history that a team has been involved in three no-hitters during one season.

Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays

AP

Mixing a devastating breaking pitch and a mid-90s fastball, Brandon Morrow pitched the game of his life. Morrow lost his no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning on a single by Evan Longoria, then stuck out his 17th batter of the game to finish off a 1-0 victory over the Rays. Dave Stieb threw the only Blue Jays no-hitter on Sept. 2, 1990, and the franchise record for strikeouts is 18, set by Roger Clemens on Aug. 25, 1998.

Texas Rangers

AP

Rich Harden (pictured) threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings in his first start off the DL. Matt Harrison came on in relief and finished the seventh. Darren O'Day retired the side in the eighth, and closer Neftali Feliz recorded out No. 25 of a potential combined no-hitter to start the ninth. Joe Mauer had other plans. He singled up the middle to break up what would have been the year's sixth no-hitter. Feliz recovered and salvaged a four-man one-hitter and a 4-0 shutout of the division-leading Twins.

Roy Halladay, Phillies

AP

The NL Cy Young favorite tossed the second no-hitter in postseason history in his first career playoff start, joining Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Halladay, who took 13 seasons before finally reaching the postseason, never came close to allowing a hit. His lone blemish was a full-count walk to Jay Bruce in the fifth. Halladay had previously thrown a perfect game May 29 against the Marlins. The Year of the Pitcher continues into October.

Tim Lincecum, Giants

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Giants ace Tim Lincecum made his first postseason start a memorable one. The two-time NL Cy Young winner shutout the Braves in Game 1 of the NLDS by allowing just two hits while striking out 14. It was only the sixth time ever that a pitcher tossed a 1-0 shutout while giving up just two hits or less.