Texas Rangers starter Andrew Heaney broke the single-game franchise record for consecutive strikeouts Monday night against the Kansas City Royals.
ARLINGTON, Texas – Texas Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney set the single-game consecutive strikeout record Monday night at Globe Life Field, breaking the mark previously set by Hall-of-Fame legend Nolan Ryan.
Heaney, in his first season with the Rangers, struck out eight consecutive Kansas City Royals through the end of the third inning. Just as impressive, all nine outs recorded by the lefty by that point were on K’s.
Heaney struck out the game’s second batter – Edward Olivares – before issuing a walk. After an error by Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia leading to the game’s first run, Heaney struck out Matt Duffy and Nicky Lopez to end the inning.
The former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher mowed down Hunter Dozier, Nate Eaton and Jackie Bradley Jr. to finish off the second. The victims in the third with Bobby Witt Jr., Olivares and Vinnie Pasquantino to set the new Texas in-game record.
Ryan, baseball’s all-time leader in strikeouts and no-hitters, set the previous franchise mark with seven-in-a-row in 1991.
Heaney broke the overall club record of successive strikeouts with his ninth in row to open the fourth by fanning Salvador Perez. The streak ended there as Duffy flied out to right.
Joe Barlow had the previous Texas record of consecutive strikeouts with eight over two games in 2021.
The Rangers would go on to win 11-2. Heaney pitched five innings and struck out 10 to notch his first win with Texas after losing his first start of the season against the Baltimore Orioles.
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