Ok, if you compare the best/most efficient starts in Felix's career to the game Walker threw last night, you aren't finding any difference. Basically Walker was as good last night as Felix has ever been in any COMPLETE GAME start, except (perhaps...jsut perhaps) for Felix's El Perfecto.
These 6 CG's are likely the best complete game performances of Felix's career: Innings-Hits-BB's-K's-Pitch Count-Strikes-Line Drives: The last game listed is Walker's from last night.
June 11, '06: 9-4-0-9-94-73-1
Aug. 28, '06: 9-5-0-4-95-70-3
Apr. 11, '07: 9-1-2-6-111-69-1
Aug. 4, '12: 9-2-2-6-101-69-4
Aug. 15, '12: 9-0-0-12-113-77-2
Aug. 27, '12: 9-5-1-5-100-69-2
Taijuan"s gem 9-1-1-11-101-77-1
Three of Felix's 6 best CG starts came in a single month, August of '12. Wow!
In the first game on that Felix list, he gave up two ER's.
Walker's performance last night was as dominating AND efficient as any CG in Felix's career, minus his perfect game. And to tell you the truth....it wasn't very far behind that game. Felix gave up two LD's in the Perfecto, Taijuan gave up a tater and one LD last night. OK...he had that BB, too. What a hack....
When Bosio threw his 97 pitch N0-No in '93, he walked 2, K'ed just 4, threw 59 strikes and gave up 3 LD's. Walker's game was better.
I should look at Felix's 8-inning wonders, too....but I'm not going to.
Moyer's best was likely on June 2nd, '06. (9 innings, 2 hits, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 LD's, 93 pitches, 57 strikes.
In Randy Johnson's no hitter, he walked 6, K'ed 8, allowed just 1 LD, but threw 138 pitches, 88 for strikes. He actually threw a 1-hitter in '91 that was better: 3 BB's and 12 K's. Agaiin 138 Pitches with 87 for strikes w/1 LD. In Sept of '92 he was even better yet. 9 innings, 1 run (unearned), 1 hit, 1 BB, 15 K's, 115 pitches, 79 strikes. He had a game very much like that in May of '93 (shutout, 1 hit) where he walked 3 and K'ed 14...but he threw 123 pitches.
You get the idea...and clearly we could split hairs, but in the history of Mariner CG efforts, looking at BOTH dominance and efficiency, Walker's effort last night was one of the handful of best in team history.
And you were there (figuratively)!
May there be many more!
Moe