Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright had the Orioles swinging at air all day in the Sox’ 7-2 victory, where Wright threw a complete game, his third on the year in what has been a breakout season for the right-hander.
While the whole game was a beauty from a pitching perspective, there was one particular knuckleball that Wright caught Orioles slugger Chris Davis with that stuck out above the rest, as it appeared to change directions at least two or three different times. It looks like it’s coming in high, then drops, then darts without warning toward the inside corner of the plate. Catch Ryan Hanigan had trouble catching Wright all afternoon, but you can’t blame him for missing this one. It cut away from his target at the very last second and evaded the glove entirely.
The single most unhittable pitch I've seen all year. Not Kershaw's curve or Thor's slider. Steven Wright's knuckler. https://t.co/t6vyY1HWR1
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 30, 2016
The 31-year-old Wright is having the best season of his career. His ERA sits at 2.52, and he now has three complete games in 10 starts this season.
Steven Wright tied for lead in QS(9, w/Sale, Happ) and CG(3 w/Sale), 5th in ERA, 2d in IP
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) May 30, 2016
Pitchers with three complete games this season:
Steven Wright (including today)
Johnny Cueto
Clayton Kershaw
Chris Sale— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 30, 2016
Monday might have been his most impressive work all year. The Orioles are averaging 4.5 runs per game and have the second-most home runs of any team in the majors this season, trailing only the New York Mets.
If Wright is throwing knuckleballs like the one to Davis, you’d be hard-pressed to find a batter who could get wood on it.
