Snell ties AL record by striking out first 7 batters vs. Mariners

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Blake Snell, a native of Seattle, felt right at home from the get-go in his first career start at Safeco Field on Sunday.

The 25-year-old opened his start by striking out seven consecutive Mariners, tying the American League record for consecutive Ks to open a game. He now shares this spot in the Junior Circuit record book with White Sox hurlers Joe Cowley (1986) and Carlos Rodon (2016).

Snell came very close to striking out his first eight batters on Sunday, which would have matched the modern-day major-league record (since 1901) to open a game. However, Denard Span, who was Snell's teammate in Tampa Bay until being traded last week, worked a 10-pitch at-bat before grounding out to second.

The strikeouts would continue for Snell following Span's at-bat, though, as he got Mike Zunino to end the third and therefore began his start on Sunday with eight strikeouts through three perfect innings.

The modern record of eight consecutive strikeouts to start a game is shared by the Mets' Jacob deGrom, who did it in 2014, and the Astros' Jim Deshaies in 1986. Mickey Welch, a Hall of Fame hurler with the New York Giants who pitched in the 19th century, punched out nine batters in a row to start a game in 1884, according to Baseball Almanac.

Snell also finished two shy of tying Doug Fister's AL mark of nine consecutive strikeouts at any point during a game. Hall of Famer Tom Seaver's big-league record of 10 straight has stood untouched since April 22, 1970.