Skip to content

Betances' AL-record strikeout streak snapped in Yankees' win

Joseph Garnett Jr. / Getty Images Sport / Getty

For the first time in 120 days, Dellin Betances didn't throw strike three.

The New York Yankees reliever tossed a perfect eighth inning on 10 pitches during Monday's 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays but failed to notch a strikeout before he was removed. As a result, his streak of appearances with at least one strikeout ended at 44 games, a single-season American League record for a relief pitcher, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Betances' streak now stands as the second-longest during a single season, one off the major-league single-season mark of 45 which was set last year by Milwaukee Brewers reliever Corey Knebel. Although he narrowly missed the MLB record, Betances actually shattered Jeff Montgomery's former AL record of 32 straight appearances with a strikeout, which had stood since 1989.

Aroldis Chapman, who shares a bullpen with Betances, owns the overall big-league record of 49 straight appearances with at least one strikeout. Chapman's streak stretched across both the 2013 and 2014 seasons when he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds.

Over the course of his strikeout streak, which began May 29, Betances tallied 76 strikeouts and posted a 1.69 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .158 average. The 30-year-old recorded at least two strikeouts in 26 of the 44 games and struck out the side six times.

Earlier this month, Betances became the first reliever in baseball history to record 100-plus strikeouts in five consecutive seasons.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox