Jarrod Dyson’s awesome bunt hit broke up Justin Verlander’s perfect game
Who’s ready for another debate about unwritten baseball rules?
Yeah, me neither.
But during the Mariners-Tigers game on Wednesday night, Detroit starter Justin Verlander had retired the first 16 batters when Seattle’s Jarrod Dyson came to the plate.
Dyson did this:
Get ready for the hottest of takes about Jarrod Dyson breaking up Verlander's perfect game with a perfect bunt pic.twitter.com/OBQbktTTLw
— NHL Insider Dinger (@atf13atf) June 22, 2017
Yeah, he bunted for a hit. And it was perfect. In fact, the awesome Daren Willman shared the Statcast particulars of Dyson’s hit:
Jarrod Dyson breaks up the perfect game...
— Daren Willman (@darenw) June 22, 2017
Exit Velocity: 42.6 MPH
Launch angle: -35 degrees
After Dyson’s bunt, things fell apart for Verlander. Mike Zunino walked and Jean Segura and Ben Gamel singled. After an out, Nelson Cruz hit a two-run double and Verlander’s night was finished. Seattle, which had trailed 4-0 when Dyson bunted, won 7-5.
“I’m sure he didn’t like it,” Dyson told Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune. “But at the same time, he looked comfortable on the mound. He about blew our whole lineup away. So I tried to lay down a bunt and get him off the mound.”
Verlander wasn’t upset about it:
Verlander on the bunt: "Perfect bunt. It's part of his game. I don't think it was too late to be in situation to bunt. Not upset about it.'
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) June 22, 2017
However, there actually were some upset fans that Dyson broke up the no-no with a bunt, while others defended the play:
No-decision for Verlander. But Dyson is a jerk for bunting.
— David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield) June 22, 2017
Jarrod Dyson's bunt completely changed the complexion of this game. It wasn't cheap. It's not bush league. That's his game. Compete to win.
— Johnny Kane (@JohnnyKaneFSD) June 22, 2017
Heads up play by Dyson! He knew they weren't hitting so he laid a bunt down and beat it out. Perfect game over for Verlander.
— Steven Gorges (@GorgesSteven) June 22, 2017
JARROD DYSON WITH THE BUNT CHEESE TO BREAK UP A PERFECT GAME! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
— Paul Sporer (@sporer) June 22, 2017
This is how you break up a perfect game? pic.twitter.com/NAQ6RKWt2A
— MLB Memes (@MLBMeme) June 22, 2017
Jarrod Dyson is the definition of Bush League
— David (@DARod1227) June 22, 2017
Jarrod Dyson deserves a 99 mph fastball straight to the ass.
— Austin (@awright232) June 22, 2017
I hope Dyson gets beaned hard #Tigers
— Richard Hussain (@Richard_Hussain) June 22, 2017
@mrzoombiya thank you for once again showing how dumb "unwritten rules" are. Perfect bunt.
— Dyson Bunt (@DysonBunt) June 22, 2017
Dyson with the bunt single to break up Verlander's no-no in the 6th. #SAVAGE
— Andrew Spruill (@AnDREW_XPE) June 22, 2017
Pete Grathoff: 816-234-4330, @pgrathoff
This story was originally published June 22, 2017 at 9:05 AM.