San Francisco Giants History: Yusmeiro Petit is Untouchable
Sometimes, a pitcher comes out of nowhere to put together a dominant run. That was the case on this day in 2014, when San Francisco Giants pitcher Yusmeiro Petit set a record by retiring 46 consecutive batters.
One of the more obscure records in baseball history is the record for consecutive batters retired. Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Jim Barr had held the record, retiring 41 consecutive batters in 1972 before Mark Buehlre set the mark with 45 batters set down in 2009. As Buerlhe pitched a perfect game in the midst of his run, it seemed likely that the new record would stand for some time.
As it turned out, the record stood for five years. Interestingly, it took a reliever/spot starter in Yusmeiro Petit to set the new mark, doing so on this day in 2014. With Tim Lincecum struggling, and Petit having retired 38 batters in a row at that point, he was given a turn in the rotation.
It did not take long to show that the start had no effect on his ability to generate outs. Petit cruised through the first inning, getting Justin Morneau to fly out to deep center to tie Barr’s mark. Nolan Arenado flew out to center to give Petit the National league record, and a perfect second left him one out away from tying Buerhle for the major league record.
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Petit began the third inning dealing. He struck out Jackson Williams to tie Buehrle, then set the record with a strikeout of Charlie Culberson. That out involved a bit of drama, as the curve that Petit threw for the strikeout hit the dirt. Buster Posey threw down to first to get that record setting out, as the crowd gave Petit a roaring ovation. However, he did not extend the record any further, as opposiing pitcher Jordan Lyles took Petit’s 0-1 offering to deep left for a double.
In the end, Petit earned the victory in the outing, the only one of his impressive streak. He allowed a run on four hits over six innings, striking out nine batters. Petit kept his spot in the rotation throughout the rest of the year, and threw his second career complete game in that time as well.
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It is not always the players that one thinks of that turn in record breaking performances. On this day in 2014, San Francisco Giants pitcher Yusmeiro Petit carved his name into the record books by setting down 46 consecutive batters.