Cain’s last game in win column
It’s a no-decision on paper, but much beloved right-hander goes out in style
SAN FRANCISCO >> Matt Cain was “Cained” one last time on Saturday. How perfect. Maybe more perfect than the perfect game Cain once pitched.
The Giants starting pitcher who could never seem to catch a break with run support wrapped up his final career start with that blandest of statistical designations — no decision. It was the 109th “ND” of Cain’s career, more than any Giants pitcher in history — Juan Marichal, Tim Lincecum, Gaylord Perry, Carl Hubbell, even Christy Mathewson.
But anyone who witnessed Cain’s final “no decision” at AT&T Park or on TV knows better. This final day was a victory in every respect, even though there was no W by Cain’s name at the end of it, and the Giants actually lost in a very ugly way in the ninth inning, 3-2.
Over five innings, we saw Cain’s career in microcosm. Not much to work with on the scoreboard, but a mound bulldog so much better than his career numbers battling to the last pitch with his exhausted body in a tight game, and leaving the mound with a lead.
It was great stuff to watch a guy who hadn’t pitched in a month throw 73 pitches of shutout ball and leave his heart and soul on the field. But the best stuff was to come. That’s when Cain walked off the mound for the final time, and the fans showered the right-hander with loud, sustained love. Imagine that, for a guy who had not gotten a win since May 15, and whose last 10 actual decisions were losses.
Then came the incredible dugout reception line. Manager Bruce Bochy actually came out to greet him first with a full hug. Then one by one, each player paid their respects to a pitcher who so richly commanded it over 13 years of solid service to the Giants.
“It’s an emotional moment,” Bochy said. “Guys were crying in the dugout. But that’s how much they care about this guy.”
Outfielder Hunter Pence, his eyes still moist well after the game, poured out feelings for everyone.
“Everything about this day was extremely emotional,” Pence said. “Even last night I could feel the energy. I woke up in bliss knowing he was starting. It filled all of us up with amazing emotions, because we just love him so much. It was a very special day.”
Indeed, it was easily the most poignant, heart-tugging day in this shipwreck of a season. That dugout tribute had nothing to do with statistics or sabermetrics or standings. It was about humanity and kinship in a competitive environment, and a moving expression of respect to a truly great competitor, numbers be damned.
The last guy to salute Cain as he finished his dugout celebration was Madison Bumgarner, a pitcher Matt mentored when came to the big leagues at age 20, just as he had five years before. Bumgarner wrapped both arms around him, flashed a wide smile and picked Cain up off the ground.
“It couldn’t have been more fitting to have Bum at the end of the line to give a hug,” Cain said. “He and I connected really well in spring training when we first saw each other. He was facing the Dodgers and he came up and said, `Hey, how do I get Manny Ramirez out?’ I said, `Throw him hard in.’ And all he did was throw him heaters inside 95-96. From right then, it was like, `I’m gonna love this kid.’ I can’t wait to turn it over to him and let him run with it.”
People around the country are never going to get this level of admiration and love for Cain. They see the numbers: 104-118 career record and the conversation pretty much ends there. But Bochy once again called him “one of the great Giants” and it’s true, he really is part of that class.
Want an impartial voice on that? How about Ted Barrett? Barrett was the home plate umpire for Cain’s perfect game in 2012. As he reminded, he was also behind the plate when Cain threw seven innings of two-hit ball against Philadelphia in Game 3 of the 2010 National League Championship Series.
As it turned out, by complete chance, Barrett was also behind the plate for Cain’s final game Saturday. When the pitcher took the mound to a sustained standing ovation, Barrett looked out at him and felt the magic of the moment himself.
“It was kind of cool,” Barrett said. “I’m a friend of Matt, but there’s that fine line where we have to be professional, so I had to go into umpire mode. Early on, I saw he was starting to get a little emotional and I was thinking, `Oh boy, I hope he can get through this … and I hope I can get through it.’ You want to see him do well, but you have to flip that switch and go into work mode and get all the pitches right. Whatever happens, let the players be the story.”
When Cain departed the game and the long dugout scene unfolded, Barrett only took passing glances over to see what was happening.
“I did try to stay in umpire mode,” he said. “But I was clapping.”
Cain said he noticed Barrett was in the crew on Friday and that he was in line to be the home-plate umpire for his finale.
“I don’t think it could have been more fitting to have Ted behind the plate for me today,” he said. “Even leading up to this start, it came across my mind that it would be pretty impressive that somehow Ted was behind the plate. When I saw what the umpire crew was yesterday, it just put a smile on my face.”
The pitcher and ump have never had a chance to sit down and talk at length about the perfect game. Barrett said that now that Cain is retiring, he can’t wait to share a beer with him and re-live that night in depth. Cain noted that he definitely wants to do that, adding, “I bet it was just as special for him being part of that game as it for me.”
They can re-live Saturday’s game as well, which was almost as special, for all of us. Years from now, as we reflect on it, nobody will remember that it was a nodecision. It was one of the best wins of Matt Cain’s life.