John Axford 18-for-18 on Oscar picks

— -- John Axford pitched the cinematic equivalent of a seven-inning no-hitter Sunday night, which is odd considering he's not started once in his major league career, which spans 281 games over five seasons.

And it didn't happen on a diamond either. Instead, it took place on the red carpet in Hollywood at the Academy Awards.

Axford, beginning his first season with the Cleveland Indians, correctly picked the winners in 18 categories. He made his predictions public on Facebook and Twitter on Sunday afternoon, hours before the live awards show took place.

One by one, his picks panned out as word got out.

Make it 13 in a row for @JohnAxford ... His teammates are ignoring him in the dugout. #Oscars

,

Oh man...oh man...oh man...oh man...oh man! Two outs away. 16 for 16. #Oscars

- John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 3, 2014 ,

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 18 for 18! #Oscars

- John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 3, 2014 ,

I'm pretty sure this means I have to do all 24 categories next year! #Oscars #18for18

- John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 3, 2014

Make it 13 in a row for @JohnAxford ... His teammates are ignoring him in the dugout. #Oscars

- Cleveland Indians (@Indians) March 3, 2014

Oh man...oh man...oh man...oh man...oh man! Two outs away. 16 for 16. #Oscars

He finished off his perfect night when "12 Years A Slave" took home the Best Picture award to cap the Oscar broadcast.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 18 for 18! #Oscars

Axford knows his movies. He correctly picked 14 of 15 winners during the 2013 Academy Awards. He also knows about streaks, as he converted 49 consecutive saves from 2011 to early 2012 while with the Milwaukee Brewers.

However, he did not pitch a true "perfect game" as the Academy Awards hand out 24 trophies. Axford didn't make predictions in six categories: Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film and Short-Subject Documentary.

I'm pretty sure this means I have to do all 24 categories next year! #Oscars #18for18

Axford knows his movies. He correctly picked 14 of 15 winners during the 2013 Academy Awards. He also knows about streaks, as he converted 49 consecutive saves from 2011 to early 2012 while with the Milwaukee Brewers.

However, he did not pitch a true "perfect game" as the Academy Awards hand out 24 trophies. Axford didn't make predictions in six categories: Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film and Short-Subject Documentary.

I'm pretty sure this means I have to do all 24 categories next year! #Oscars #18for18