Sanchez snaps 115-year-old Phillies record for consecutive scoreless innings

Courtesy of the Phillies

 With his clean sheet through the end of the bottom of the fourth inning at Petco Park in San Diego, Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez set a new franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings at 41 2/3.

The original record of 41 straight scoreless was set by Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1911 -- a mere 18 years since the pitcher's mound was codified as 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate. 

Sanchez' streak officially sits at 44 2/3 innings after he worked 7 scoreless frames innings in an eventual 3-0 victory over the Padres to close out a 3-game sweep on Wednesday afternoon.

Sanchez ended his outing with exactly 100 pitches, 67 for strikes. He struck out 9 and walked none, yielding just 6 hits. It is the ninth time this season in 12 starts Sanchez has worked at least 6 full innings.

"It's something special. Something really important. I never imagined something like this so I'm just really happy and proud of myself," Sanchez told Phillies broadcasters Tom McCarthy and John Kruk immediately following the conclusion of the contest through his interpreter, 

On surviving a couple close calls with balls hit deep int the outfield, requiring expert plays: "It was crazy today. (Padres infielder Manny) Machado was really going for me, but he couldn't." 

"Just staying calm and thinking about one pitch at a time," he added when asked about working through those rare times runners were on base. "If you take it one pitch at a time and try not to be over aggressive."

Current Phils radio color commentator Larry Andersen still holds the record for consecutive scoreless innings from a relief pitcher, tossing 32 2/3 innings without a blemish back in 1984.

Other Phillies pitchers to toss a significant amount of scoreless innings include, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com: 

Cliff Lee 34 IP (2011)

Dick Farrell 32 2/3 IP (1957-58)

Ranger Suarez 32 IP (2024) 

Robin Roberts 32 IP (1950) 

Ken Heintzelman 32 IP (1949) 

In addition, according to longtime baseball writer Jayson Stark, Sanchez now ranks third among all MLB left-handers for consecutive scoreless innings. The others: Doc White (45 IP, 1904) and Carl Hubbell (45 1/3 IP, 1933).

Sanchez did not allow a single run of any kind in the month of May, across 5 starts and 39 innings, going 4-1.

The all-time record for consecutive scoreless innings by any pitcher is 59 innings, accomplished in 1988 by Cherry Hill High School East graduate and veteran hurler Orel Hershiser, for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Per Langs, after Hershiser, the record of scoreless innings for all pitchers are as follows: Don Drysdale (58 IP, 1968) Bob Gibson (47 IP, 1968) Zack Greinke (45 2/3 IP, 2015). 

"He's been really good for quite a long time now," said Phils shortstop Trea Turner following the game, which featured the rest of the club toasting Sanchez in the locker room. "When you're that consistent, you're going to start putting your name up there with those other guys. He deserves it."