Boston Red Sox Strike Out Record 11 Straight Batters in Tampa
On Sunday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox accomplished something that hadn’t been done since 1970.
The Boston Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball as they are in the midst of an 11-game winning streak. On Sunday afternoon, they added another hot streak to this impressive stretch of play: 11 straight strike outs. Starter Eduardo Rodriguez and Heath Hembree struck out 11 straight Rays batters from the fourth inning through the seventh inning—Rodriguez had six strike outs and Hembree five. The feat broke the record of 10 set back in 1970 when Tom Seaver of the New York Mets struck out 10 consecutive San Diego Padres.
After Curt Casali worked a walk in the fourth inning, Rodriguez struck out Luke Maile and Richie Shaffer. In the fifth, he struck out Logan Forsythe, Jeff Decker and Evan Longoria. Rodriguez was then replaced by Hembree after he struck out Brad Miller to lead off the inning. Hembree picked up where Rodriguez left off and struck out both Mikie Mahtook and Corey Dickerson. Hembree then set down Casali, Maile, and Shaffer, all swinging, in the seventh.
Logan Forsythe finally ended the impressive streak when he led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single against Matt Barnes.
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Perhaps even more amazing, Red Sox pitchers combined to record 23 strike outs during Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the Rays. They had 21 strike outs during regulation and Joe Kelly added two more punch outs in the bottom of the 10th to secure the win. There is a caveat, though. The 23 strike outs will not set a new official record because Major League Baseball only takes into account nine-inning records—the feat has to occur within the nine innings of regulation.
23-year-old Rodriguez allowed one run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out 13 Rays setting a new career high. He also struck out 10 of the final 11 batters he faced before manager John Farrell pulled him from the game. Rodriguez, who only lasted 2 1/3 innings on September 15 against the Yankees, has looked good in his last two starts. He has given up only three runs on seven hits in his last 11 2/3 innings with three walks and 20 strikeouts.
Farrell was amazed by his pitching staff’s performance in Tampa:
"“The power that was thrown from the mound today was just incredible, honestly. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was one hell of a day from the mound.”"
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Their victory on Sunday gave the Red Sox 92 wins, which ties them with the Texas Rangers for the best record in the American League. They now lead the East by 5 1/2 games with six left to play, and their magic number to clinch the division is two.