Dallas Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in major league history to lead the Oakland Athletics to a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

Daric Barton had three hits and scored a pair of runs and Landon Powell doubled and drove in a run or the A's, who have won four of five. Ryan Sweeney and Kevin Kouzmanoff added an RBI apiece to aid Braden's quest.

Braden became the first pitcher since Mark Buehrle on July, 23, 2009, and the first Oakland hurler since Catfish Hunter on May 8, 1968, to throw a perfect game. Buehrle's was also against the Rays.

Tampa Bay has been on the bad end of three different no-hitters.

Braden's gem was the second no-hitter in the majors this season after Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez dominated the Atlanta Braves on April 17.

Braden, who became famous nationally when he got into a shouting match on the field with New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez on April 22, is emerging as a star in his own right this season. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 3.30 with Sunday's gem and has allowed three runs or less in six of his seven starts.