On Friday, September 16, 1988, Tom Browning of the Cincinnati Reds pitched the 12th perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, blanking the Los Angeles Dodgers 1–0 at Riverfront Stadium. Browning became the first left-handed pitcher to pitch a perfect game since Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965. As of 2022, this perfect game is also the only one in Major League history to be pitched on artificial turf. Background Browning was in his fifth season in MLB, having made his debut in September 1984 with the Reds. Through the end of the 1987 season, he had a career record of 45–35 with a 3.95 ERA. Coming into his September 16, 1988, start at home against the Dodgers, he had a season record of 15–5 with 3.56 ERA in 32 starts. His most recent start had been an eight-inning no decision five days earlier, also against the Dodgers, in a road game at Dodger Stadium. The Reds nearly had a perfect game earlier in the season, as starting pitcher Ron Robinson retired the first 26 Montreal Expos he faced at home on May 2, 1988. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, pinch hitter Wallace Johnson singled to left field on a full count, breaking up the bid. Tim Raines then homered, narrowing the Reds' lead to 3–2. Relief pitcher John Franco then got Johnny Paredes to ground out for the final out. Browning had a bid for a no-hitter broken up earlier in the season. On June 6, 1988, against the San Diego Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium, Browning took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. Tony Gwynn singled with one out; it was the only hit Browning allowed in defeating the Padres, 12–0. Entering the September 16 game, the Dodgers had an 84–60 record, while the Reds were at 76–69. It was the first game of a three-game series between the teams. The game A two-hour, 27 minute rain delay forced the game to start at approximately 10 PM local time. The rain delay lasted longer than the game itself, played in a brisk one hour, 51 minutes. The game's lone run came with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Batting against Dodger starter Tim Belcher, himself working on a no-hitter, Reds shortstop Barry Larkin doubled and advanced to third on Chris Sabo's infield single; an error by Dodger third baseman