Today (April 18, 2022) marks the tenth anniversary of a remarkable pitching achievements. On April 18, 2012, Oakland A’s Bartolo Colon started on the mound against Ervin Santana and the Angels. During one stretch of that game, won by A’s 6-0, Colon threw 38 consecutive strikes. (The longest such streak since pitch-by-pitch data began being accurately tracked in 1988.) Were all 38 offerings in the strike zone? Perhaps not, but all those pitches that were outside the zone were close enough that the batters offered at them.
Overall, the streak lasted from the second pitch of the fifth innings until the seventh pitch of the eight frame. Surprisingly, Colon struck out just two batters during the streak. He also gave up two hits during the streak of strikes.
For the game, Colon threw 108 pitches – 82 strikes. For those who like such details, the first strike of Colon’s run came on his second pitch to SS Maicer Izturis leading off the Angels’ fifth. His streak ended on his second pitch to LF Bobby Abreu in the eighth. For the game, Colon pitched eight shutout innings – four hits, no walks and five whiffs – running his record to 3-1, 2.63. A few notable stats from the game:
- 35 of the 38 pitches were fastballs (two changeups and one slider).
- There was only one swing and miss (17 strikes looking).
- There were ten foul fouls and ten balls put in play.
Colon pitched in 21 MLB seasons (1997-2009, 2011-18 … Indians, Expos, White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, A’s, Mets, Braves, Twins, Rangers) – winnings 247 games (188 losses), with a 4.12 ERA. He fanned 2,535 batters and walked 948 in 3,461 2/3 innings. Between 2012-2016 he averaged just 1.3 walks per nine innings – twice recording the NL’s lowest walks/nine rate. He averaged fewer than two walks per nine frames in nine seasons.
Now, as always, with Baseball Roundtable, one thing leads to another. So, imagine my surprise, when I saw Colon as the most recent entry in Baseball Almanac’s list of pitchers to start a game and walk four consecutive batters before recording an out. It happened on June 29, 2000, as Colon started for the Indians in Kansas City. Colon opened the bottom of the first inning by walking Royals’ LF Johnny Damon, 2B Jeff Roboulet, 1B Mike Sweeney and RF Jermaine Dye on a total of 24 pitches. He actually survived the inning, following the four walks with a sacrifice fly, run-scoring groundout and a strikeout. Side note: This was a pretty good hitting Royals team. Among those first-inning walks, Roboulet was hitting .309, Sweeney .347 and Dye .320. Colon lasted five innings in the game, giving up five earned runs on two hits and six walks.
Well, that bit of research sent me on another tangent – a look at pitchers who gave up at least ten walks in a game, without surrendering a run. Turns out it happened a manageable nine times. So, here they are, with some very subjective rankings.
- Jim Maloney. Reds … August 19, 1965 versus Cubs (in Chicago)
Maloney tops this list because his game was a ten-inning no-hitter – in which Maloney gave up ten walks, hit one batter and fanned a dozen. Maloney’s toughest inning was the third, when he walked 2B Glenn Beckert and SS Don Kessinger to open the inning; then fanned P Larry Jackson and got CF Don Landrum to hit into a P-SS fielder’s choice; then walked LF Doug Clemens to load the bases, before getting RF Billy Williams on a groundout to second. In the game, Maloney walked three in the third, two in the fourth, eighth and ninth and one in the tenth. The Reds and Maloney won the game 1-0, scoring in the top of the tenth on a home run by number-eight hitter SS Leo Cardenas.
Maloney enjoyed a 12-season MLB career (1960-71) – all but the final year (Angels) with the Reds. He went 134-84, 3.19, twice winning 20 or more games in a season and logging six seasons of 15 or more victories. He finished in the league’s top five in walks five times and top three in wild pitches six times (leading the league twice).
- Bill James, Tigers … May 12, 1916 versus Athletics (in Philadelphia)
James takes the number-two spot on this list because he managed to not allow a run, while walking ten batters in just five innings.
- James walked the first two batters in the first inning, but pitched out of the jam (sacrifice, fielder’s choice, strikeout).
- He gave up a walk and a single to put runners on first and third to start the second frame, but again worked his way out (runner caught stealing, fly out, strikeout).
- In the third, he again started the inning by putting two runners on base (walks), but slipped the hook with two ground outs and a fly out.
- Fourth frame, guess what? First two batters get on again (walks). James then got a groundout and a strikeout (leaving runners on second and third), before another walk to load the bases. A flyball to right then ended the inning.
- The fifth was uneventful, a lone two-out single.
- James started the sixth with a pair of walks before being pulled – and reliever Bernie Boland got out of the inning without a run touching the plate.
So, despite two hits and ten walks in five innings, James left with a 2-0 lead. The bullpen, oweer, eventually gave up the lead and James got a no-decision. (The Tigers eventually won 8-6 in 11 innings.)
James pitched in eight MLB seasons (1911-12, 1914-19 … Indians, Browns, Tigers, Red Sox, White Sox). He went 64-71, 3.21.
- J.R. Richard, Astros … July 6, 1976 versus Mets (in Houston)
Photo: Public Domain via WikiCommons
Richard’s qualifying game featured a ten-inning, compete-game shutout – despite eight hits, ten walks and two wild pitches. In the first inning, Richard gave up a single and a double (3B Make Phillips and CF Bruce Boisclair), but avoided a run with Philips cut down at the plate. Richard pitched in and out of trouble all game, but the seventh and eighth innings were especially tense. In the seventh , after getting the first out (2B Felix Milan on a grounder to short), Richard walked SS Bud Harrelson and wild pitched him to second. He then walked P Jon Matlock and 3B Mike Phillips to load the bases – but a fly out to short center and a grounder to first got him out of the inning. The eighth started out smooth, with two out and no one on, but Richard then walked C Jerry Grote, Milan and Harrelson to load the bases before fanning Matlock to end the inning.
Mets’ starter Jon Matlock matched Richard goose egg for goose egg through nine, but was lifted for a pinch hitter in the tenth. Mets’ Reliever Skip Lockwood gave up a run on two singles and an error in the bottom of the tenth and Richard had a hard-fought 1-0 win.
Richard pitched 10 MLB seasons (1971-80), all for the Astros. He went 107-71, 3.15 – once winning 20 games (20-15, 2.75 in 1976) and three times notching 18 wins. He led the NL in strikeouts twice – both times topping 300 whiffs – and led in walks and wild pitches three times each.
- Gary Peters, Whites Sox …. September 13, 1967 versus the Indians (in Chicago)
Peters worked hard for little return (a no decision) – pitching 11 one-hit, no-run innings (with, of course, ten walks and one hit by pitch) – in a game the White Sox eventually won ( 17 innings) 1-0. Peters gave up his lone hit in the top of the second – a triple to C Joe Azcue with only one out. Peters then walked CF Jose Vidal and 2B Vern Fuller to load the bases – before a short fly to LF and a grounder to SS got him out of the inning unscathed. While the raw numbers would seem to dispute it, Peters really seemed to be in control, despite all the free passes. From the third through the eleventh innings, only two runners reached second base.
Peters pitched in 14 MLB seasons (1959-72 … White Sox, Red Sox). He was a two-time All Star and went 124-103, 3.25, once leading the AL in wins (20-8 in 1964) and twice in ERA (2.33 in 1963 and 1.98 in 1966). He won 15 or more games in four seasons.
- Garland Buckeye, Indians … September 16, 1926 … versus Yankees in Cleveland
Have to put Garland Buckeye up here – great name and he managed a complete-game shutout against the Yankees of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri – despite giving up two hits, ten walks and a hit by pitch (and fanning only one). Buckeye spent considerable time in trouble during the game – and Babe Ruth seemed to always be in the middle of it.
- In the second inning, Buckeye walked RF Ruth and then gave up a double to LF Meusel (Ruth stopping a third). Buckeye then walked SS Lazzeri to load the bases. He got out of the jam with a pop up and a groundball double play.
- In the fourth, Buckeye surrendered a single to 1B Gehrig and a walk to Ruth, before Meusel sacrificed them to second and third. A pop up and line out got Buckeye back to the bench without a run.
- In the sixth, Buckeye walked Gehrig and Ruth with one out and pitched out of it with a couple of easy fly balls.
- The seventh saw Buckeye issue three walks and bring Lou Gehrig to the plate with the sacks full and two out. It was then that Buckeye notched his only strikeout of the game.
- Buckeye walked Ruth to open the eighth and followed up by hitting Meusel with a pitch – but got a double play and an infield pop up to again escape.
The game was tied 0-0 until the seventh, when the Indians put up five runs against Yankee starter Herb Pennock. (Pennock came into the game 22-9, Buckeye at 4-8).
Garland Buckeye pitched in five MLB seasons He got a cup of coffee for the Washington Senators in 1918 (against the Yankees), and gave up three hits, six walks and four earned runs in two innings. A big man for his time, Buckeye moved to football, where he played center and guard for the Chicago Tigers (1920) and Chicago Cardinals (1921-24) of the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League). He returned to MLB in 1925 and played through 1928 (Indians, Giants). His career MLB stats read 30-39, 3.91 in 108 games (67 starts). As a hitter he was .230-5-23 in 204 at bats. His best season on the mound was 1925, when he went 13-8, 3.65 for the Indians.
- Hank Aguirre, Indians … September 24, 1955 … versus the Tigres (in Detroit)
This outing was Aguirre’s first MLB start (and just his fourth appearance). The 24-year-old rookie struggled a bit, but managed a complete-game shutout – as his Indians prevailed 7-0. Aguirre got off to a rocky start walking the first three batters he faced – SS Harvey Kuenn, 1B Earl Torgeson and RF Al Kaline. He wiggled out of the jam with two foul pop outs and a fly to right. He had another tough inning in the seventh, walking three of the first four batters before getting Kaline on a liner to first base and CF Bill Tuttle on a strikeout. With six of his ten free passes coming in two innings, the game was not as stressful as a ten-walk outing might seem.
Aguirre pitched 16 MLB seasons (1955-70 … Indians, Tigers, Dodgers, Cubs). He went 75-72, 3.25 and won 14 or more games in three campaigns. In 1962, he was an AL All Star (Tigers) and went 16-8, with a league-low 2.21 ERA.
- George Brunet, Angels … July 6, 1966 versus Tigers (in Detroit)
Brunet worked just a bit of overtime in a tight contest (the Angels won 1-0 in ten innings) to pick up a victory – giving up no runs, despite allowing three hits and 10 walks. Brunet had eight strikeouts in the game. In the second inning, with runners on second and third and one out, Brunet fanned C Bill Freehan and SS Dick McAuliffe to escape. In the eighth, a double and a pair of walks (after two outs) loaded the bases, but Brunet coaxed a ground out to third from LF Willie Horton. The Angels scored in the top of the tenth to give Brunet a 1-0 lead, but after he walked the first batter in the bottom of the inning (3B Don Wert), got 2B Jake Wood to pop out and then gave up a single to 1B Norm Cash, Brunet was relieved by Jack Sanford who got the final two outs.
George Brunet pitched in 15 MLB seasons (1956-57, 1959-71 … Athletics, Braves, Astros, Orioles, Angels, Pilots, Senators, Pirates, Cardinals). He went 69-93, 3.62.
George Brunet is a member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame. After leaving the major leagues, he pitched Mexico until 1989 (age 54).
- Mel Stottlemyre, Yankees … May 21, 1970 versus Senators (in New York)
This falls just a little short of one-run game. Stottlemyre got a 2-0 win, despite six hits, 11 walks and two wild pitches.
Stottlemyre was in trouble right from the start, giving up two walks and two singles in a scoreless first (one runner was erased trying to advance to second on a single). Things calmed down until the fourth, when Stottlemyre again managed to escape scoreless, despite two singles and a walk (one runner called out after being struck by a fair ball). In the fifth, Stottlemyre gave up two walks, one hit, a stolen base and tossed a wild pitch – but a key runner caught stealing enabled him to escape again. In the ninth, a single and two walks had the bases loaded with one out (in a 2-0 game) and Stottlemyre was pulled. Reliever Steve Hamilton came in and fanned 1B Mike Epstein and 2B Bernie Allen (the number-four and number-five hitters) to save the game.
Stottlemyre pitched in 11 MLB seasons (1964-70), all for the Yankees. He was a five-time All Star and won 20 or more games in three seasons (15 or more games in seven seasons). He also led the AL in losses twice. His overall record was 164-139, 2.97.
Mel Stottlemyre was an All Star in 1966, when he led the AL in losses ( 12-20, 3.80). He was 7-8, 3.15 at the break and 5-12, 4.51 in the second half.
- Lefty Gomez, Yankees … August 1, 1941 versus Browns (In New York)
Gomez gave up five hits and 11 walks (one wild pitch) and still managed to shut down the Browns in a lopsided 9-0 Yankee win. (There wasn’t a lot of pressure on Gomez, it was 3-0 after one inning and 6-0 after three.)
Really, despite all the walks, Gomez did not seem to be in a lot of trouble. The most bothersome innings were bookends – the first and the ninth. In the first, Gomez gave up a leadoff single to 2B Don Heffner, then retired the next two batters before walking a pair (Wally CF Judnich and LF Roy Cullenbine) to load the bases. This brought up RF Chet Laabs (remember that name, he’ll come up again) with the bases full and two outs. Gomez got him on a foul pop out. In the ninth, Gomez walked the bases full with two outs, and Chet Laabs was again the batter (told you he’d be back). This time it was a fly out to center to end the game.
Hall of Famer Gomez pitched in 14 MLB seasons (1930-43), all but the final one for the Yankees. (He was 0-1, 5.79 in one start for the Senators in 1943). Gomez was 189-102, 3.34 for his career. A seven-time All Star, he led the AL in wins twice (and four times won 20+ games), and also led in ERA twice, in complete games twice, in shutouts three times and in strikeouts three times.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Bartolo Colon Throws 38 Consecutive Strikes in A’s Win, The Washington Post, April 20, 2012, by Matt Brooks
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