LeaveittoBiebertoset MLB strikeout record

Shane Bieber kept up his record strikeout run, fanning 13 and pitching the Cleveland Indians past the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 on Sunday.

Bieber (2-1) became the first pitcher in big league history to begin the season with four straight starts with at least 10 strikeouts.

The AL Cy Young Award winner has 48 strikeouts this year, matching Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan for the most through the first four starts of a season. Bieber has fanned at least eight in a 16 straight starts, one short of Randy Johnson’s major league mark.

BRUCE CALLS IT A CAREER >> Three-time All-Star Jay Bruce of the Yankees announced his retirement. He received an ovation when shown on the Yankee Stadium video board before the eighth inning but did not get in the game. Bruce hit .118 with one homer and three RBIs in 39 plate appearances this year.

He had a .244 average with 319 homers and 951 RBIs in 14 major league seasons.

A’S-TWINS POSTPONED >> Today’s scheduled game between the Twins and the A’s was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns involving some of the Minnesota players. A doubleheader is scheduled for Tuesday pending further testing. NOLA GOES THE DISTANCE FOR SHUTOUT >> Aaron Nola struck out 10 and threw a two-hitter for his first nine-inning shutout in the majors, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Nola (10-1) threw a pair of doubleheader-shortened complete games last season, including a shutout. But he never pitched into the ninth inning over his first 142 career starts. BRAVES GO DEEP EARLY >> Freddie Freeman, Travis d’Arnaud, Ehire Adrianza and Guillermo Heredia homered in the first inning and the Atlanta Braves throttled the Chicago Cubs 13-4.