Armando Galarraga tries to get Jason Donald out at first base for the last out of his perfect game. Umpire Jim Joyce ruled Donald safe.

Armando Galarraga came within one out of a perfect game Wednesday night, deprived of the milestone on a call the first base umpire says he got wrong.

The 28-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, making his third start of the season, beat the Cleveland Indians 3-0 and lost the bid when umpire Jim Joyce ruled Jason Donald safe on an infield hit. Galarraga received a throw from first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who had fielded Donald's grounder between first and second base.

Tigers players and manager Jim Leyland angrily berated Joyce after Trevor Crowe made the final out, claiming replays showed Donald did not beat the throw.

Minutes after the game, however, Leyland and Galarraga both said they believed no one felt worse about the controversial call than Joyce.

Galarraga said Joyce apologized to him for getting it wrong.

"I just cost the kid a perfect game," said Joyce , who became a full-time umpire in 1989. "I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw until I was the replay. It was the biggest call of my career."

Galarraga, who received a celebratory beer shower from teammates after the game, said he was impressed that Joyce approached him after the game.