Fernandez sets Marlins strikeout record with absurd May
Jose Fernandez has been untouchable this month. Historically so, in fact.
In the bottom of the second inning Tuesday in Miami, the 23-year-old right-hander set a Marlins franchise record when he fanned Jordy Mercer for his 52nd strikeout in May, surpassing Ricky Nolasco's previous highwater mark for strikeouts in a single month.
Despite incurring a slight dip in velocity in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, Fernandez - who boasts a 2.82 ERA and leads the majors with a 36.7 percent strikeout rate - had allowed one run or fewer in four of his five May starts while notching at least nine strikeouts in his previous four outings heading into Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
| Date | IP | ER | K | Game Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 4 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 48 |
| May 9 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 76 |
| May 15 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 73 |
| May 21 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 68 |
| May 26 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 72 |
| May 31 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 77 |
Fernandez, an All-Star and the National League Rookie of the Year in 2013, nearly broke Nolasco's record in August of his inaugural season, but was used relatively conservatively that month, throwing less than 100 pitches in three of his six starts while never eclipsing 109 pitches in an outing.
| Player | Split | Year | SO | IP | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricky Nolasco | August | 2008 | 51 | 43 | 2.72 |
| Jose Fernandez | August | 2013 | 49 | 39 | 1.15 |
| Ricky Nolasco | Sept/Oct | 2009 | 48 | 39 | 4.15 |
| Kevin Brown | May | 1997 | 47 | 42 | 3.43 |
| Ricky Nolasco | July | 2010 | 47 | 42 | 3.00 |
Though Fernandez recorded a comparatively measly six strikeouts Tuesday, he still managed his best game score (77) of the month, leading Miami to a 3-1 victory with seven scoreless innings while finishing off his superb May with a total of 56 strikeouts.