Immaculate Innings

Pitchers Who Threw Exactly 9 Pitches in an Inning - ALL 9 Were Strikes

After a really great game, it might be said of a pitcher that he was throwing "nothing but strikes." Every once in awhile, at least for one inning, this is completely correct. Some pitchers have the idea that a perfect inning consists of three pitches.

Three fly balls, three groundouts, whatever. Just get it over with and let the defense win it for you. But these pitchers realize the beauty of a truly perfect inning. A nine strike inning. You can imagine how it goes...

The first batter comes up, just wanting to get on base. Strike one-he shakes it off, lucky pitch. Strike two-he swings for it, just over anxious, he'll get the next one. Strike three-he returns to the bench, mumbling something about how the pitch was actually inside. Next guy up. He falls prey to the breaking ball, gets him every time. Two outs. Last one comes to the plate. He has a hungry look in his eye, he'll at least battle for a walk. He is mistaken.

No matter how it happens, when a pitcher's on, he's on. So here's to Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan. To Lefty Grove and Randy Johnson. To the men who redefined just what it means to have an immaculate inning.