Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Ana Kieu

OAKLAND — The A’s are undoubtedly struggling against the world champion Astros at the moment, but here’s a positive fact to take your mind off the Green and Gold’s issues.

On this date in 2010, which happened to be on a Mother’s Day, Dallas Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in MLB history against the Tampa Bay Rays. It was the second by an Athletic and it came 42 years and one day after Catfish Hunter did it against the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 1968.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Braden is the first pitcher to throw a perfect game against a team entering the day with the best record in the majors and it came in his 68th career appearance, which was third fewest among the pitchers with a perfect game at the time.

Braden’s no-hitter was the sixth no-hitter by an Athletic and the first since Dave Stewart on June 29, 1990 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Also, Braden’s astonishing performance was the 11th nine-inning no-hitter in A’s history.