Buehler extends playoff strikeouts record with dazzling 10-K Game 3
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler added to his already-impressive postseason resume with his 11th straight playoff appearance with six-plus strikeouts.
Buehler allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 10 over six innings on Friday. The one-time All-Star earned his first career World Series win as the Dodgers beat the Rays, 6-2.
That's 10 for Walker. pic.twitter.com/goQWGzwvi5
— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2020
That extends a record streak of starts with at least six punchouts for the ascendant ace, leading an elite list of pitchers including Hall of Famers Randy Johnson (nine) and Bob Gibson (nine).
Tonight is Walk Buehler's 11th postseason start, and he's struck out at least 6 in all of them. He extends his record streak of games with 6 K tonight.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
Buehler is the 7th pitcher in MLB history to accumulate at least 80 K through his first 11 postseason appearances. pic.twitter.com/b03CiwuC8D
The 26-year-old carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning of Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays, but it was broken up by Manuel Margot.
The outing lowered Buehler's postseason ERA to a remarkable 2.35 to go along with his 83 strikeouts over 61 1/3 innings.
Buehler is the first pitcher since teammate Clayton Kershaw to strike out 10 or more batters while allowing one run or fewer in a World Series game, according to MLB Stats. Kershaw accomplished the feat in Game 1 of the 2017 Fall Classic when he struck out 11 and allowed one run over seven innings against the Houston Astros.
Buehler is also the first pitcher in MLB history to hit double-digit strikeouts while pitching no more than six innings in a World Series contest, according to MLB Communications.