Only two pitchers in the Live Ball Era have had a longer scoreless streak than . Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park, the ace blanked the into the seventh inning to extend his shutout streak to 50 ⅔ innings. Only Orel Hershiser (59 innings in 1988) and Don Drysdale (58 innings in 1968) have had longer streaks since 1920.
The streak came to an end at 50 ⅔ innings when poked a two-out RBI single to left field in the seventh inning. That drove in , who doubled down the left field line as the previous batter. It is the first run Sánchez has allowed since the first inning against the on April 30.
Sánchez broke Carl Hubbell’s Live Ball Era record for consecutive scoreless innings by a lefty when he completed the first inning on Wednesday (). Here the record-breaking out:
A lefty like no other
Sánchez moved ahead of Bob Gibson and into sole possession of the third-longest scoreless streak of the Live Ball Era when he completed the third inning. In his previous start last Wednesday, of 41 consecutive scoreless innings. Sánchez faced the Padres in that game as well, albeit at Petco Park in San Diego.
All told, Sánchez held an admittedly weak Padres lineup to four hits and one walk in seven innings Wednesday night. He struck out eight and has gone at least seven innings in an MLB-leading six starts this season.
Here are the longest scoreless streaks in the Live Ball Era (since 1920):
Orel Hershiser,
59
Aug. 20, 1988
Sept. 28, 1988
Don Drysdale, Dodgers
58
May 14, 1968
June 8, 1968
Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies
50 ⅔
April 30, 2026
June 3, 2026
Bob Gibson,
47
June 2, 1968
June 26, 1968
, Dodgers
45 ⅔
June 18, 2015
July 26, 2015
Carl Hubbell, Giants
45 ⅓
July 13, 1933
Aug. 1, 1933
Sal Maglie, Giants
45
Aug. 16, 1950
Sept. 13, 1950
,
44 ⅓
Aug. 8, 2022
Sept. 11, 2022
Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks
42
July 20, 2007
Aug. 17, 2007
, Dodgers
41
June 13, 2014
July 10, 2014
If we include the Dead Ball Era (prior to 1920), Sánchez’s streak is fifth all-time. Walter Johnson went 55 ⅔ innings without allowing a run for the Washington Senators in 1913, and Jack Coombs went 53 scoreless innings with the 1910 . Only those two, plus Hershiser and Drysdale, are ahead of Sánchez in MLB history.
In May, Sánchez joined Hershiser as the only non-openers in baseball history to start five games in a calendar month and not allow a run. Sánchez threw at least seven innings in each of his five May starts and was named the NL’s Pitcher of the Month.
Sánchez, 29, was the NL Cy Young runner-up behind last season, when he threw 202 innings with a 2.50 ERA and led all pitchers with 8.0 WAR, per Baseball Reference’s calculations. Wednesday’s start gives Sánchez a 1.46 ERA through 13 starts and an MLB-leading 86 ⅓ innings this season.
The Phillies acquired Sánchez as a minor leaguer in a 1-for-1 trade with the on Nov. 20, 2019. Infielder went to the Rays in the deal. Sánchez made his MLB debut in June 2021.
Philadelphia signed Sánchez to a in March, ensuring he will remain one of the biggest bargains in baseball.
