Baseball writer Bill James developed the game score metric to evaluate the success of a pitcher's start. Game score is calculated as follows: Start with a base score of 50 points. Add one point for each out recorded. Add two points for each inning completed after the fourth. Add one point for each strikeout. Subtract two points for each hit allowed. Subtract four points for each earned run allowed. Subtract two points for each unearned run allowed. Subtract one point for each walk.
Francisco Liriano's no-hitter May 3 tied him for the lowest game score ever in a no-no, matching Lefty Chambers' 83 on May 6, 1951. Sunday, Liriano lost a no-hitter in the eighth inning, but turned in an outing more dominant than when he made history against Chicago. In fact, the game scores were identical. To see how the two performances stacked up, the Star Tribune compared Liriano's two outings via the game score metric. For reference, Liriano entered Sunday's game with a career average game score of 53. His career high is 87, recorded on July 2, 2006, against Milwaukee, when he also had a career-high 12 strikeouts.
ALEX PREWITT
June 11 May 3
Base score 50 50
Outs recorded +24 +27
Inn. after 4th x 2 +8 +10
Strikeouts +9 +2
Hits allowed x 2 -4 -0
ER allowed x 4 -4 -0
UR allowed -0 -0
Walks -0 -6
Total 83 83
