The Boston Red Sox catcher collected his first major league hit in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. His one-out double snapped an 0-for-12 stretch to begin his big league career and broke up a perfect game bid by O’s starter Wei-Yin Chen.
Chen retired the first 16 batters he faced. The left-hander fell behind Butler, though, and the 27-year-old backstop lined a 2-0 fastball off the Green Monster to ensure the Red Sox wouldn’t fall victim to a perfect game for the first time in franchise history.
Butler, who made his major league debut earlier this season, hadn’t started a game since Aug. 17.