SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Matt Cain pitched five shutout innings, then raised his arms and waved his cap, fighting off tears amid a standing ovation as he walked off the mound for final time Saturday in the San Francisco Giants’ 3-2 loss to San Diego.
Cain’s decorated 13-year career came to an end and the home crowd at AT&T Park saluted the right-hander, a cornerstone of the team’s championship era who pitched the only perfect game in franchise history.
Cain took a curtain call and exited with a 1-0 lead. He gave up two hits, struck out four and walked one. He made his last start a day ahead of his 33rd birthday and at the close of a $127.5 million, six-year contract.
Beset by injuries in recent years, Cain has said he couldn’t imagine pitching for another team. The three-time All-Star finished 3-11 with a 5.43 ERA this year.