There is nothing quite like the immaculate inning. Nine pitches, nine strikes, three strikeouts. It is pure dominance as a pitcher, the inning where no one on the opposition can touch your stuff. Yesterday, Tampa Bay Rays lefty Jose Alvarado threw the third immaculate inning in franchise history, joining Rafael Soriano and Brad Boxberger in that exclusive club.
It was certainly not a performance that one saw coming. The 22 year old rookie had posted a 5.89 ERA and struck out only 14 batters in his 18.1 innings prior to being sent to Durham at the end of June.