Could Hiroki Kuroda of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitch a perfect game? The Japanese import was just six outs away from the first Perfect Game in the Majors since Randy Johnson did it against the Braves on May 18, 2004.
UPDATE: Through seven, Kuroda threw just 65 pitches with 45 of them strikes and gave up no hits and no walks. Atlanta's Mark Teixeira led off the eighth inning with a double -- ending Kuroda's Perfect Game bid. Now, he will have to regroup as the Dodgers lead the Braves, 3-0.
UPDATE: Kuroda finished up the eighth inning without further damage. He now chases a one-hitter which would be the first by a Dodger since August 31, 2005.
UPDATE: Kuroda polished off the Braves with a 1-2-3 ninth and became the third pitcher this season to pitch a complete game one-hitter -- Tampa Bay's Matt Garza and James Shields were the other two. He finished the game with just 91 pitches thrown. It was the least pitches thrown by a Dodgers' pitcher in a nine-inning complete game since Odalis Perez on June 25, 2002 who threw just 87 pitches in a one-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Rockies. It was the second time Perez threw a one-hitter that season -- he had a one-hitter against the Cubs that season where he also threw just 91 pitches on April 26, 2002.
The Dodgers are now tied with the Diamondbacks for first place in the NL West. Both teams are 44-45.