Orioles’ Young Loses Bid for Perfect Game in 8th—How Close Was He?

By Oliver Wiener August 20, 2025 03:38

Baltimore Orioles rookie right-hander Brandon Young came heartbreakingly close to achieving baseball immortality on August 15, 2025, when he lost his bid for the first perfect game in Orioles history with just four outs remaining. Young’s near-flawless masterpiece was spoiled by a hard-luck, slow roller to third base in the eighth inning by Astros second baseman Ramón Urías.

Young was dazzling through seven perfect innings at Daikin Park in Houston, tallying six strikeouts on 74 pitches, 50 of which were strikes, and retiring 23 consecutive batters. Entering the game with a 0-6 record and a struggling 6.70 ERA, Young’s outing was a career-high in innings pitched and showed remarkable control and poise under pressure.

With two outs in the eighth, Urías, recently acquired by Houston from Baltimore, hit a weak grounder between the mound and third base line. Young hustled to field it barehanded but rushed his off-balance throw to first base, which sailed wide, allowing Urías to reach safely for an infield hit. The misplay was charged as an error to Young, ending his perfect game bid but preserving the no-hit attempt.

“I thought I could make the play,” Young said after the game. “I got there in time. I think I had a little more time to maybe take a step and make a better throw. Obviously, rushed it, yanked it. Definitely want it back.” Despite the error, Young regained his composure and struck out the final batter of the eighth to cap an extraordinary eight-inning performance.

Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman praised Young’s outing, noting his command and pitching intelligence. “He was throwing all of his pitches for strikes, mixing locations well, and executing his plan,” Rutschman said. The rookie’s sharp breaking balls and precise fastball kept the powerful Astros lineup off balance all night.

Young acknowledged the mental struggle during the late innings, given what was on the line. “It’s really hard not to think about it,” he said. “I just tried to calm myself down, take it one pitch at a time, breathe. But I could tell what was happening.”

Young’s perfect game attempt was historic for the Orioles franchise, which has never recorded a perfect game in its storied history. The rookie’s 93-pitch gem helped Baltimore secure a 7-0 victory over a strong Astros team and marked his first career win, a milestone moment tempered by the narrow miss for perfection.

Notably, the emotionally charged atmosphere included several of Young’s family members attending, as he hails from Lumberton, Texas, not far from Houston. The hometown crowd witnessed a performance that hinted at a promising career ahead despite Young’s earlier struggles this season.

Teammates voiced strong support, with infielder Jordan Westburg recognizing the difficulty of the play and the exceptional nature of Young’s performance. “I thought he had a real chance. It’s unfortunate, but it’s still a remarkable outing. He shouldn’t dwell on it too much,” Westburg said.

Young’s outing serves as a testament to his growth and resilience. After a tough stretch early in the season, his ability to flirt with history speaks volumes about his potential to develop into a frontline starter for the Orioles moving forward.

In sum, while the perfect game slipped away, Brandon Young’s near-flawless performance remains a seminal moment in his young career and Orioles history a shining beacon of hope for a team eager to contend in the seasons ahead.