By striking out looking this Friday shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Jordy Mercer in the top of the ninth, the stellar closer Holguin Aroldis Chapman, of the Cincinnati Reds, imposed an absolute record in the American Major leagues, with 40 consecutive games striking out one opponent.
The supersonic hurler then surpassed the previous mark for a reliever, set in the distant 1977 by Bruce Sutter, when between June 1 and October 2 of that year, struck out 39 opponents in consecutive appearances.
Chapman began this streak on August 21, 2013. “I am proud and happy to have done it,” Chapman told the AP through an interpreter. “When I heard I had tied it, I thought about it, and now I have to congratulate myself for the record. I pray I will extend it. ”
In his climb to success, Chapman surpassed the mark of 32 games in 1989 by Jeff Montgomery and Eric Gagne, 35, between 2003 and 2004.
In addition to Mercer, Chapman struck out Michael Martinez and Matt Hague, raising his strikeout total to 83 during this period. By comparison, Montgomery managed 59 strikeouts over his record, Gagne 65 and Sutter 87, although the latter threw 65 innings compared to the 42 of Chapman.
“I do not know if I will break more records,” Chapman said. “I do not think about it. When they arrive, I will accept them. ”
This game ended with victory for the Reds, with the save game number 20 for Aroldis, who arrived late to this season product of a scaring injury suffered in the preseason,and has struck out 57 batters in just 28 and two-thirds, and rivals average against him an anemic .151.
