SAN DIEGO — Cristopher Sánchez made history on Wednesday when he threw a fastball to a lefty hitter, leading to a groundout that broke a franchise record for the Philadelphia Phillies. For 115 years, Grover Cleveland Alexander’s record of 41 innings held strong, but with four scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres, Sánchez pushed his streak to 41 2/3 innings.
After a solid outing, Sánchez ended with seven scoreless innings, stretching his streak to 44 2/3 innings. This achievement puts him seventh for the longest scoreless streak in Major League Baseball since 1920.
This is a big deal not just for any pitcher but especially for Sánchez, who transformed from a little-known player to one of MLB’s top pitchers. His ERA now stands at an impressive 1.47.
Despite some shaky moments in the early innings and less-than-perfect defense from his team, Sánchez managed to hold off the Padres. Manny Machado came close to hitting a home run in the fourth but settled for a loud out, leaving Sánchez stunned.
“Watching him work has been pretty special,” said Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly before the game.
Sánchez didn’t just break the Phillies’ record; he also set a new mark for left-handed pitchers since MLB expanded in 1961. The previous lefty record was Clayton Kershaw’s 41 scoreless innings in 2014. Orel Hershiser holds the all-time record with 59 innings from 1988, while Carl Hubbell has the modern lefty record at 45 1/3 innings from 1933.
The 29-year-old from the Dominican Republic has come into his own in the last couple of seasons. After an eye-opening 2024, he followed it up with a stellar 2025, finishing second in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
As the season continues, challenges are inevitable in baseball. However, this streak reinforces the hard work Sánchez has put in to become one of the best starters in the game. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about the journey. Fans and analysts alike are keenly watching how far he can take this historic run.
For more on Yankees history and pitcher records, check out the official MLB website.
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