Pitch perfect: White Sox fan-in-chief congratulates Buehrle following his perfect game.

Pitch perfect: President congratulates Buehrle

CLEVELAND — First fan Barack Obama made time for a congratulatory call to the pitcher on his favorite baseball team who just threw a perfect game.

Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox didn’t allow a hit or walk a batter in a 5-0 victory at home over the Tampa Bay Rays. It was only the 18th perfect game in major league history.

The president’s spokesman says Obama told Buehrle it was “an unbelievable achievement” and “something that everyone will always remember.”

Just last week Obama stepped to the pitcher’s mound at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for the first pitch at the All-Star game. Obama wore a White Sox jacket and visited Buehrle and other players before the game.

Obama was in the Cleveland area on Thursday discussing health care. He later traveled to Chicago for several fundraisers.

(This version CORRECTS the team’s name to Tampa Bay Rays, not Tampa Devil Rays.) )