December 26, 2024

Phillies’ Aaron Nola strikes out 10 straight Mets batters, ties MLB record

Aaron Nola #AaronNola

June 25 (UPI) — Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola recorded 10 straight strikeouts against the New York Mets on Friday, tying a MLB record that stood for more than five decades.

Nola equaled Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, who fanned his final 10 hitters for the Mets in a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres on April 22, 1970, at Shea Stadium in New York.

Seaver’s record for consecutive strikeouts held for 51 years until Nola struck out Michael Conforto to start the fourth inning in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field, which replaced Shea Stadium in 2009 on the same site in Queens.

“That’s pretty cool, being in a category with Tom,” Nola said after the game. “… Getting ahead in the count, 0-1, 0-2 and winning the 1-1 counts was big for me today. Then I could put them away with stuff.”

In the next at-bat after the Conforto strikeout, Mets slugger Pete Alonso halted Nola’s remarkable stretch of punchouts when he reached across the plate and poked a slider down the right-field line for a double. Nola had Alonso in a 1-2 count before the hit.

Nola said he wasn’t aware of how close he was to Seaver’s milestone until Alonso’s plate appearance.

“When Alonso was up I kind of knew because they were chanting, ‘Let’s go, Pete,’ so I knew something was going on,” Nola said.

Seven of Nola’s strikeouts during his streak were swinging. He caught Dominic Smith, James McCann and Taijuan Walker looking.

Nola notched his 19th career double-digit strikeout game — and third of this season — with the streak.

Despite Nola’s stellar outing, the Mets earned a 2-1 victory over the Phillies in the first game of the doubleheader.

Cleveland Indians’ Shane Bieber delivers a pitch to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Tuesday. The Indians won 10-1. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Indians’ Jose Ramirez (R) is greeted by teammate Eddie Rosario after hitting a three-run home run. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Fans in the right-field seats attempt to catch the three-run home run ball off Ramirez’s bat. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Chad Kuhl throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Marlins won 3-1. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Marlins’ Yimi Garcia (L) celebrates the 3-1 against the Pittsburgh Pirates with teammate Starling Marte. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. scores in the sixth inning. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals’ Angel Rondon makes his major league appearance to deliver a pitch against the Reds. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Reds’ Tyler Stephenson is tagged out by the Cardinals’ Andrew Knizner as he tries to get back to third base. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Reds’ Jesse Winker (L) is congratulated at home plate by teammate Jonathan India after hitting a two-run home run. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals’ Tyler O’Neill (L) is congratulated at the dugout by teammate Carlos Martinez after hitting a two-run home run. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals’ broadcaster Mike Shannon waves to the crowd from the KMOX radio booth after the public address announcer told the fans that Shannon will retire after 50 years behind the microphone. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

India sidesteps as he touches home plate, hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, on Saturday. The the Reds won 5-2. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals’ Johan Oviedo delivers a pitch against the Reds. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals’ Tommy Edman slides safely past the Reds’ Tucker Barnhart to score from second base on a single. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals’ Yadier Molina looks to the stands. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The flag of Puerto Rico is waved by a woman from a suite as the Cardinals’ Yadier Molina bats. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Leave a Reply