MLB gets another whiff of a record
Major League Baseball hitters have once again swung — and missed — into the record book.
For the 10th straight year, MLB batters have set the mark for most strikeouts in a season. They did it Wednesday, raising the whiff total to 39,168. That topped the 38,982 who fanned in 2016.
The final game of the day was at Dodger Stadium and the last out came when Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen got San Diego’s Jabari Blash to swing at strike three.
Heading into Thursday’s play, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had fanned the most often, 204 times. He had also hit 50 home runs, helping MLB set a record for the highest homer total in a season.
Boston ace Chris Sale led all pitchers with 308 strikeouts.
With four days left in the regular season, the Milwaukee Brewers topped the majors with 1,537 strikeouts. The AL West-champion Houston Astros had the fewest at 1,050.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians joined an elite group Thursday by recording their 100th victory of the season.
Carlos Carrasco struck out 14, Jason Kipnis and Roberto Perez hit two-run homers as Cleveland won 5-2 over the understandably sluggish Minnesota Twins, who celebrated their wildcard berth earlier Thursday.
By improving to 31-3 since Aug. 24, the 2017 Indians joined the 1954 and 1995 teams to reach the century mark.
“That’s cool,” said Kipnis. “First, it’s a lot better than losing 100. I’ve been on that team before and I think it was what, ’11 or ’12 where we went 5-25 in August. I’ve been on the teams where no matter what you do, you’re going to lose. This is one of those teams where no matter what you do, it feels like you’re going to win.”
The ’54 and ’95 teams both lost in the World Series and after getting to Game 7 last year before losing to the Chicago Cubs, these Indians don’t care about any pre- October milestones — no matter how impressive.
“That’s not our goal,” said all-star shortstop Francisco Lindor. “It’s something amazing, special. It will be there for a long time. We’re just enjoying it and focusing on our daily job, which is to win.”
The Indians are the seventh team to reach 100 wins in the last decade.
Carrasco (18-6) dominated a Minnesota lineup loaded with reserves and September call-ups playing because the Twins rested several regulars hours after clinching a wild-card spot.
Carrasco allowed six hits — all singles — in 81/3 innings and improved to 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA against the Twins this season.