After just one inning against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez stretched his scoreless streak to 45.2 innings—the longest for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history.
By the time the Wednesday night inning ended, Cristopher Sanchez had already moved closer to baseball immortality—and he did it with one calm, familiar mission: keep the San Diego Padres from scoring.
The Philadelphia Phillies left-hander, working only one inning against San Diego on Wednesday, extended his scoreless streak to 45.2 innings. That mark now stands as the longest scoreless innings streak by a left-handed pitcher in MLB history.
Sanchez’s streak is historic on its own, but there’s still another milestone in the distance. He still has work to do to reach Orel Hershiser’s 59 consecutive scoreless innings streak. For now. though. the focus remains on the next inning. the next batter. and the next chance to keep that Padres game quiet.
Once you reach 45.2 scoreless innings, the pressure changes. It’s no longer just about getting outs—it’s about protecting something rare. Sanchez did exactly that after one inning against the Padres. and the question for the Phillies becomes whether the momentum can carry him toward Hershiser’s record.
Phillies Cristopher Sanchez scoreless streak Padres MLB history left-handed pitcher Orel Hershiser