27 up, 27 down. Felix Hernandez was perfect on Wednesday afternoon, retiring every Tampa Bay Rays batter he faced while leading the Seattle Mariners to a 1-0 victory. Hernandez threw 130 pitches, 77 of which were strikes, and calmly struck out five of the final six batters to secure the amazing feat. Somewhere around the seventh or eighth inning, Felix started trending worldwide on Twitter, and as you may expect, it exploded with jubilant and hilarious and poignant and awesome reactions when he achieved perfection.
HOW DO YOU HUG SOMEONE ON TWITTER
— Peter Woodburn (@wernies) August 15, 2012
I can now say I saw perfection. Thank You
— Chris Fetters (@Chris_Fetters) August 15, 2012#KingFelix
Felix just pitched the greatest game I ever saw
— Dave Grosby (@Thegroz) August 15, 2012
what we can't forget is how freaking flawless Felix was in the last couple innings. i have never seen that in my life.
— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) August 15, 2012
Dear Cy Young Voters:My 2010 Cy Young Award needs company.Sincerely, Felix.
— Steve Sandmeyer (@SteveSandmeyer) August 15, 2012
He's ours. You can't have him.
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) August 15, 2012
The King is alive, long live The King.
— Craig Johnstone (@TheC_Raig) August 15, 2012
"Coming up next on SportsCenter... Felix Hernandez throws a Perfect Game!! But first lets go to Jets Training Camp.."
— Faux John Madden (@FauxJohnMadden) August 15, 2012
"I've been working so hard to throw one and there it is. For you guys" -- Felix Hernandez is great.
— SB Nation (@sbnation) August 15, 2012
Now
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) August 15, 2012@realkingfelix is allowed in@2ksports Perfect Club#welldeserved
Felix Hernandez is neither false nor unnecessarily humble. "It was in my mind the whole game."
— RamsHerd (@RamsHerd) August 15, 2012
You a G if you think about a perfect game in the 3rd inning!
— Davis Hsu (@DavisHsuSeattle) August 15, 2012
Felix's stuff and command were so good today, he may have been able to go 15 perfect frames. Absolutely unbelievable.
— Jason A. Churchill (@ProspectInsider) August 15, 2012
Awesome moment in elevator w/ GM Jack Zduriencik holding phone to his ear and mockingly saying "no we're not trading Felix"
— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) August 15, 2012#Mariners
Your city is proud of you, King Felix.
Head on over to Lookout Landing to share in the revelry.