Pitchers with most consecutive strikeouts in a MLB game

Pitchers with most consecutive strikeouts in a MLB game

These are the pitchers who struck out the most consecutive batters in a major league baseball game. Every pitcher who struck out at least eight batters in a row is listed.

The list includes a pitcher from my favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees. That former Yankees pitcher now has a son who plays 1B for the New York Mets.

Pitchers with most consecutive strikeouts in a MLB game

1. Tom Seaver - 10

Tom Seaver of the New York Mets struck out 10 consecutive batters vs the San Diego Padres on April 22, 1970. That is the major league baseball record for most consecutive strikeouts in a game by a pitcher. 

Tom Seaver struck out 19 Padres hitters that day, and pitched a complete game to get the win, 2-1.

T-2. Aaron Harang - 9

On April 13, 2012, Aaron Harang of the Los Angeles Dodgers struck out nine batters in a row vs the Padres. Harang struck out 13 batters in the game, but also gave up four runs in 6.1 innings and did not get a decision as the Dodgers beat the Padres by a score of 9-8.

T-2. Ricky Nolasco - 9

Ricky Nalasco of the Miami (Florida at the time) Marlins struck out nine consecutive Atlanta Braves hitters on September 30, 2009. Nolasco struck out 16 total hitters in the game, which he won by a score of 5-4. Nolasco gave up no earned runs in 7.2 innings pitched.

T-4. Johnny Podres - 8

On July 2, 1962, Johhny Podres of the Dodgers struck out eight consecutive Philadelphia Phillies. Podres had 11 total strikeouts in the game, which he won, 5-1. Aaron Harang broke Podres Dodgers record for most consecutive strikeouts on April 13, 2012.

T-4. Nolan Ryan - 8

On July 9, 1972, Nolan Ryan of the Los Angeles (California back then) Angels struck out eight consecutive Boston Red Sox hitters, and 16 for the game. Ryan pitched a complete game one-hitter for a 3-0 win.

T-4. Nolan Ryan - 8

On August 7, 1973, Nolan Ryan of the Angels struck out eight consecutive Milwaukee Brewers, and 13 batters in the game. Ryan also gave up six walks and four earned runs in nine innings, and got the win as the Angels won 6-5 in 10 innings.

T-4. Ron Davis - 8

Ron Davis of the New York Yankees struck out eight consecutive Los Angeles Angels (California Angels back then) on May 4, 1981. Davis did it in relief over the final three innings of the game, as he pitched three scoreless innings to preserve a 4-2 win for Yankees starter Gene Nelson.

As a big-time New Yok Yankees fan I remember Ron Davis striking out the eight batters in a row in relief. Ron Davis' son, Ike Davis, is the New York Mets starting 1B.

T-4. Roger Clemens - 8

On April 29, 1986, Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox struck out eight Seattle Mariners hitters in a row. Clemens had an amazing night that night, as he struck out an all-time best 20 hitters for a nine inning game, and pitched a complete game 3-1 win.

T-4. Jim Deshaies - 8

On September 23, 1986, Jim Deshaies of the Houston Astros struck out eight Los Angeles Dodgers in a row. Deshaies totaled 10 strikeouts in the game, and pitched a complete game shutout for a 4-0 win.

T-4. Blake Stein - 8

On June 17, 2001, Blake Stein of the Kansas City Royals struck out eight consecutive Milwaukee Brewers in a row. Stein struck out 11 batters in the game, but gave up  four runs in 5.2 innings and took the 5-2 loss.

Dodgers have perspective on best start since 1981

With six wins in their first seven games, the Dodgers are off to their best start in more than 30 years.  The last time the team began a season 6-1 was the strike-shortened 1981 season that ended with a World Series championship.

While pleased with his team’s play, Dodger manager Don Mattingly understands that his club still has 155 regular-season games to play.

Obviously it’s really early,” Mattingly shrugged.

So what exactly does the hot start mean?

“It just means enough that we’ve gotten out of the blocks the right way.”  

In 2005, the Dodgers got out of the blocks the right way too, winning five of the first six, and 12 of the first 14.  But a good start early doesn’t guarantee a good finish.  By June 1st, the 2005 team was only a break-even ball club; by season’s end, the team was twenty games under the .500.

If healthy, this Dodger squad figures to be more like the ‘81 team than the 2005 edition.

Pitching has been a strength in the early going, with the two horses at the top of the rotation, Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley, turning in stellar performances.  

“The starting pitching has been great,” Dodger first basemen James Loney explained.  “These guys have been going out throwing strikes, attacking the zone and our bullpen has been great too.”

For Los Angeles to compete, they’ll need more than great pitching.  Offensively, Loney will need to be more consistent than he was last year.  

He’d like to forget the first four months of 2011; from April to July, Loney hit .256 with only four home runs.  Then he hit .367 and .348 in August and September respectively, adding eight more round trippers.

With high hopes for 2012, Loney again stumbled out of the gate, going hitless in his first 16 at bats before a first-inning single yesterday.

Now at 1-for-20 on the year, the low-key Loney seems unfazed.

“Obviously I got off to a little slow start here,” Loney said, stating the obvious.  “For me, the key is staying consistent with my work everyday, going in there confident and not dwelling on it.  Things will go the right way.”

Loney and his teammates know there’s a lot of season left.

Second basemen Mark Ellis who had two hits and a run scored in last night’s 3-2 win over the Pirates, has a similar perspective about the 6-1 start.

“We’ve got a long ways to go,” said Ellis.  “There’s still some things we can do better, but it’s definitely better than being 1-6.”

What makes this start intriguing is not so much that the Dodgers have won six of seven, but how they’ve been able to do it.  Mattingly says this brings self assurance.

“We’ve won in different ways,“ the Dodger skipper explained.  “We’ve been able to score a few runs at times, we’ve pitched pretty well with our starters, we’ve been able to close things out and shorten the games on teams.  We‘ve been able to win a lot of different ways and it‘s good for our confidence.”

Seven games into the season, the Dodgers aren’t making World Series plans just yet, but the fast start has Los Angeles fans hopeful that this season ends as well as it did in 1981.