Yesterday (June 15, 2022), Astros’ moundsmen Luis Garcia and Phil Maton pitched their way into the record books. The two Houston hurlers each tossed an “Immaculate Inning” … an inning facing just three batters and fanning the side on nine pitches. In these days of relief specialists, 100-mph fastballs and free swingers looking for the long ball, an Immaculate Inning is far less rare than it used to be (there were none in the 1930s and 1940s). It’s been accomplished more than 100 times. Garcia and Maton, however, were part of the first game in which two pitchers each tossed an Immaculate Inning and, of course, also will go down as the first two teammates to toss an Immaculate Inning in the same game.
Garcia tossed his nine-pitch, three-whiff fame in the bottom of the second, while Maton achieved the feat in the bottom of the seventh. The Astros, by the way, won the game (started by Garcia) 9-2 and four Houston pitchers notched a total of 14 strikeouts.
The double Immaculate Innings game was rendered even more unique by the fact that the same three Rangers’ batters were the strikeout victims in both innings – Rangers’ 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 2B Ezequiel Duran and 3B Brad Miller (the 6-7-8 hitters in the Texas lineup).
As always, with Baseball Roundtable, one things leads to another. So, let’s take a look at some Immaculate Innings tidbits.
Note: The above chart is for the National and American Leagues. Also, in researching for this post, I did find some discrepancies among trusted sources – and I have worked to resolve those wherever possible (relying on multiple sources for confirmation, checking box scores, etc.)
Immaculate Innings – What’s that?
Only two teams have never recorded an immaculate inning, and both can trace their roots back to Washington D.C. The Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins and the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers. The Dodgers, Astros, and Yankees lead MLB with nine Immaculate Innings each. Here are the pitchers who tossed Immaculate Innings for those leading teams:
Dodgers: Pat Ragan (1914); Dazzy Vance (1924); Sandy Koufax (1962, 1963, 1964); Todd Worrell (1995); Kenley Jansen (2017); Zac Rosscup (2018); Max Scherzer (2021).
Astros/Colt .45s: Bob Bruce (1964); Pete Harnisch (1991); Mike Magnante (1997); Randy Johnson (1998); Shane Reynolds (1999); Brandon Backe (2004); Will Harris (2019); Luis Garcia (2022); Phil Maton (2022).
Yankees: Al Downing (1967); Ron Guidry (1984); A.J. Burnett (2009); Ivan Nova (2013); Brandon McCarthy (2014); Dellin Betances (2017); Michael King (2021); Chad Green (2021); Nestor Cortes (2022).
The Third Time’s the Charm.
While “Immaculate Innings” are indeed becoming less rare, multiple Immaculate Innings remain pretty unique. Only three MLB pitchers have recorded three immaculate innings in a career – Sandy Koufax (all with the Dodgers); Chris Sale (all with the Red Sox); and Max Scherzer (Nationals and Dodgers).
Three pitchers recorded two Immaculate Innings during their careers: Lefty Grove – who did it for the Athletics; Nolan Ryan – Mets and Angels; and Randy Johnson – Astros (NL) and Diamondbacks.
Nolan Ryan is the only pitcher to throw an immaculate inning in both the AL and NL.
Two pitchers have recorded two Immaculate Innings in one season: Lefty Grove Athletics (1928) and Chris Sale (2019).
Immaculate on the Big Stage.
The only pitcher to throw a nine-pitch, three-strikeout inning in the World Series is the Royals’ Danny Jackson. On October 24, 1985, Jackson started Game Five of the Series against the Cardinals. He threw a complete-game, five-hitter in beating the Redbirds 6-1. He walked three and struck out five, including 3B Terry Pendelton, C Tom Nieto and PH Brian Harper on nine pitches in the seventh inning. Jackson had gone 14-12, 3.42 in the regular season He had taken the loss in Game One of the Series, despite giving up only two runs (four hits, two walks, seven strikeouts) in seven innings. His Game-Five win pulled the Royals to 3-2. They eventually won the series four games to three.
Just Give Me a Little More time and I can Do it.
There have been only two immaculate innings tossed in an extra inning.
Sloppy Thurston for the White Sox, August 22, 1923 … Thurston, who came on in the 11th inning, threw an immaculate 12th before giving up a run in the 13th and taking the loss in a 3-2 Athletics victory.
Juan Perez, Phillies, July 8, 2011 … Perez came on (against the Braves) in the top of the tenth of a 2-2 game and fanned the side. The Phillies scored on a Raul Ibanez’ HR in the bottom of the inning to give Perez the win.
Nine pitches and Done for the Day.
Here’s a list of pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning while facing only three batters in a game – in the ninth inning unless otherwise noted:
Jim Bunning, Tigers … August 2, 1959
Doug Jones, Brewers … September 23, 1977
Pedro Borbon, Reds … June 23, 1979
Jeff Montgomery, Royals … April 29, 1990
Stan Belinda, Royals … August 6, 1994
Todd Worrell, Dodgers … August 13, 1995
Ugueth Urbina, Expos … April 4, 2000
Jason Isringhausen, Cardinals …. April 13, 2002
Rafael Soriano, Rays … August 23, 2010
Juan Perez, Phillies, 10th inning … July 8, 2011
Steve Delabar, Blue Jays, 8th inning … July 30, 2013
Rex Brothers, Rockies, 8th inning… June 14, 2014
Sergio Casilla, Giants … May 7, 2015
Drew Storen, Reds … April 18, 2017
Zac Rosscup, Dodgers … August 19, 2018
Josh Hader, Brewers … March 30, 2019
Chris Martin, Braves, 7th inning … September 11, 2019
Will Harris, Astros, 8th inning … September 27, 2019
Kyle Finnegan, Nationals, 6th inning … May 5, 2021
Phil Maton, Astros, 7th inning …. June 15, 2022
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com
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