



Humber didn't throw three balls to any batter until he ran up a 3-0 count to Michael Saunders to start the ninth, then came back to strike him out on a 3-2 slider.



After a high fly hit by pinch-hitter John Jaso to right fielder Alex Rios for the second out, Ryan then ran the count full. Pierzynski said there was no way he was going to call a fastball because he wanted to keep the no-hitter intact if Humber had missed outside with the slider for a walk.



"It takes a lot of confidence in your stuff to do that, and he had that confidence," Rios said. "It was a good effort with him and A.J."



The last pitcher to throw a perfect game was the Phillies' Roy Halladay against the Marlins on May 29, 2010. Buehrle threw the last perfect game by a Sox pitcher against the Rays on July 23, 2009.



Humber said he received 67 text messages about 45 minutes after the game. But that celebration could take a back seat soon.



"My wife (Kristan) is nine months' pregnant, and I was making sure she didn't give birth when I was pitching," said Humber, who also called his father shortly after the game. "Lot of friends, people need to share this moment with because a lot of them helped me along the way."



Reliever Will Ohman said he said a prayer in the bullpen.



"I felt (Jake) Peavy on my back," Humber said of the celebration on the field after the final out. "I couldn't breathe and I was (saying), 'let me up.' I skinned my forehead.



"The best part was seeing my teammates excited."



mgonzales@tribune.com



Twitter @MDGonzales