Orel Hershiser says he was rooting for Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez to break his long-standing all-time scoreless innings mark, but Sanchez’s run ended at 50.2 innings. Hershiser credits his family and friends for staying relieved—and insists his 59-inn
PHOENIX — Orel Hershiser was about to eat dinner and broadcast the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game Wednesday night when he learned that Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez’s attempt to break the all-time scoreless innings streak had ended.
Hershiser said he was privately rooting for Sanchez. but he also acknowledged the relief felt around him—his family and friends—because the record of 59 scoreless innings he set remains the standard. Sanchez’s streak was snapped at 50.2 innings on San Diego Padres center fielder Jack Merrill’s two-out single. which scored Ty France from second base.
“It’s a great accomplishment, it really is,’’ Hershiser said. “It’s tremendous. I really believe you’re going to see more streaks this year. You’ve got guys like Shohei (Ohtani of the Dodgers). Miz (Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers). I think with the way hitting is now, you’re going to see more of these streaks.“.
“Hershiser then added that someone will break the record—just not now—pointing to the fact that his 1988 mark has held for 38 years and counting.
“Someone will break the record.’’
Not this time. Hershiser emphasized that his record still stands, and that it has endured for nearly four decades.
“I was rooting for him because I know how special it is in your life,’’ Hershiser said. “He’s having a great year. He’s got to be the front-runner for the Cy Young. He’s got ridiculous stuff. And he’s a strikeout pitcher, much more of a strikeout pitcher than I was.’’
Sanchez, Hershiser suggested, may get another opportunity one day to chase the kind of streak that changes careers.
“Maybe it will be someone else. But Hershiser is convinced that his record will be broken. It took 20 years for him to break Don Drysdale’s 58-inning streak, and 55 years for Drysdale to break Walter Johnson’s 55.2-inning streak from 1913.
The streak, Hershiser argued, isn’t just an individual achievement—even though it gets attached to a pitcher’s name.
“Really, when you think about it,’’ Hershiser said, “it’s a team record. Even though it gets attributed to individuals, somebody has to pick up the groundball and throw it to first. Somebody’s got to catch the fly ball in the gap. Somebody’s got to turn a double play for you when there’s first and third with one out. But it is special.“.
For Hershiser, the memory reaches beyond the number. He said the streak changed his life—but winning a world championship changed it even more.
“When I think about it. it changed my life. but the bigger thing that changed my life was winning that (1988) world championship. To this day when I get together with my teammates. we celebrate that championship. and I thank them for picking that ball up and doing the things needed for 59 scoreless.’’.
Orel Hershiser Cristopher Sanchez scoreless innings streak Phillies Dodgers Cy Young Jack Merrill Ty France Padres
So the streak ended at like 50 innings? Baseball math is wild.
I don’t even get why people care about scoreless innings that much. Like one hit and it’s over? Sounds rigged sometimes.
Jack Merrill did what, a two-out single? That’s insane that one random at-bat stops a 59-inning record. Also didn’t Hershiser say his record was for all of baseball, not just the Phillies or Dodgers? Either way 38 years is crazy.
Honestly I’m just surprised the Padres center fielder is involved, I thought it was always like “pitcher vs catcher” or something. If Shohei is in the mix, then sure somebody will break it soon… unless the league changed the rules again. Records don’t last forever, right?