clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Jason Donald Knows He Was Out In Armando Galarraga's Near-Perfect Game

You know it. I know it. Everyone knows that the Cleveland Indians' Jason Donald was out one year ago at Comerica Park for what should've been the final play of Armando Galarraga's perfect game.

↵

Of course, it didn't turn out that way, thanks to Jim Joyce's botched call at first base. And though Galarraga and Tigers fans were deprived of a slice of history, the game and its aftermath treated us to one of the best moments in sports last year.z

↵

But back to what should've been that final out. FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi caught up with Donald, who's been in the minors most of this season and now rehabbing at the Indians' spring training facility. We know what Joyce and Galarraga (and just about everyone else) thought of the play. But what about Donald? Did he think he was safe?

↵
↵

"He beat me," Donald said over the telephone Wednesday. "He had the angle. The play happened right in front of me. I knew I was out immediately."

↵
↵

As Donald walked back to first base in disbelief, Indians first base coach Sandy Alomar, Jr. reaffirmed what everyone watching the game except Joyce knew: He was out.

↵

Small consolation, of course. It's interesting that the two players involved in the pivotal play are not currently playing in the major leagues. Galarraga was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the offseason and is now pitching in Triple-A Sacramento after the D-Backs demoted him. (And Galarraga isn't happy about it.)

↵

So much can happen in a year.