The game of baseball has been played for over 100 years and has seen some of the most iconic moments in sports history. One of the most impressive feats in the game is the two-pitch inning, where a pitcher throws two pitches and gets three outs. While rare, it has happened before, and here we’ll take a look at some of the most notable two-pitch innings in the game of baseball.
What is a Two-Pitch Inning?
A two-pitch inning is when a pitcher throws only two pitches and gets all three outs. This means that the opposing team has three batters up and each one is retired with only two pitches. It is an incredibly rare feat, and it requires a combination of skill, luck, and perfect timing.
How Rare is a Two-Pitch Inning?
A two-pitch inning is one of the rarest feats in all of sports. It has only happened a handful of times in the history of baseball, and no pitcher has ever done it more than once. In fact, the last two-pitch inning was thrown in 2006, and it has been over a decade since then.
Notable Two-Pitch Innings
While two-pitch innings are rare, there have been some notable ones in the history of the game. Here are some of the more memorable two-pitch innings:
1. Dontrelle Willis, 2006
In 2006, Dontrelle Willis of the Florida Marlins achieved the feat of throwing a two-pitch inning against the New York Mets. He threw two fastballs and got three straight outs: a groundout, a fly out, and a pop out.
2. Kerry Wood, 2004
In 2004, Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs threw a two-pitch inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He got three quick outs, including two strikeouts and a pop out.
3. Mark Buehrle, 2009
Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox threw a two-pitch inning against the Cleveland Indians in 2009. He got three quick outs, including two strikeouts and a fly out.
4. Randy Johnson, 2001
Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks threw a two-pitch inning against the Atlanta Braves in 2001. He got three quick outs, including two strikeouts and a pop out.
Conclusion
A two-pitch inning is one of the rarest feats in all of sports. It has only happened a handful of times in the history of baseball, and it requires a combination of skill, luck, and perfect timing. Even though it has been over a decade since the last two-pitch inning was thrown, it is an iconic moment in the game, and there have been some memorable ones in the past.