Mariners announcer goes old school; mum on no-hitter in perfect game

Rick Rizzs says he’s old school and can’t mention a no hitter when a pitcher is going for it. (AP)

The voice of the Mariners, Rick Rizzs, was part of history calling Felix Hernadez’s perfect game at Safeco Field Wednesday night, but none of his calls until the game’s last play included ‘perfect game.’

“One strike away from baseball history,” Rizzs said heading into the final pitch. “Hernandez looks in, the windup, and the two-two pitch, strike three called. Felix Hernandez pumps his arms in the air. Felix has just thrown the first perfect game in Seattle Mariners’ history.”

Hernandez pitched the Seattle Mariners’ first perfect game and the 23rd in baseball history, overpowering the Tampa Bay Rays in a brilliant 1-0 victory Wednesday.

“It’s so rare,” Rizzs tells Ron and Don Show. “You never think you’re going to see one.”

Rizzs is old school and says there’s no way he’d risk jinxing Hernandez when it appeared he just might get there.

“There were a couple of points in the game that were nerve-racking. The last six outs were nerve-racking,” says Rizzs. “You get so close.”

He says he has ways of letting the fans know what’s going on without saying the actual words.

“Not one Ray has gotten a hit. Not one Ray has gotten to first base,” are some phrases he pulled out to give fans a clue.

Going nine innings with no mention of a no-hitter or a perfect game, Rizzs says when it finally happened, when the words could finally spill out, having held them that long, made the final call that much sweeter.

“To actually be able to say it makes it that much more exciting when it does happen,” says Rizzs. “It was just truly amazing watching the best of the best, King Felix, work.”

Listening back to the call, Rizzs says he still gets goosebumps.

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor
The Associated Press contributed to this report.