ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Soak it in because this doesn't happen often. Jack Flaherty's performance to start this season is rivaling something we haven't seen since the incredible Bob Gibson.
The 25-year-old St. Louis Cardinals ace is now 8-0 in his first nine starts this season. He is the first Cardinals starting pitcher to start a season 8-0 since Gibson did it in 1965. That year wasn't his game-changing season of 1968, but was still a year that Gibson was an All-Star and won a Gold Glove.
Flaherty's feat is also the first time it's happened in all of MLB since starting Dallas Keuchel went 9-0 for Houston in 2017. He's also is the first Cardinals pitcher to win eight consecutive starts since Joaquin Andujar (8 GS, May 10-June 14) and John Tudor (9 GS, June 3-July 11) did in 1985. And joins Gibson and Burleigh Grimes as the only Cardinals pitchers to record a sub-3.00 ERA and win at least eight of his first nine games to begin a season. Gibson was 8-0 with a 2.42 ERA in 1965 and Grimes was 8-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 1931.
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Flaherty struck out seven and allowed only two runs on four hits in the 8-5 Cardinals victory Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also walked twice at the plate to give him four on the season – the most among MLB pitchers this season.
Matching Gibson's 8-0 mark is especially special for Flaherty, who donned a pair of cleats on Opening Day with Gibson's photo to honor the late Hall of Famer.
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And his 2021 season draws some similar comparisons to Gibby:
• Both players took a no-decision as the Opening Day starter
• Flaherty through nine starts in 2021: 53.1 innings pitched, 2.53 ERA, 55 strikeouts and 17 walks.
• Gibson through nine starts in 1965: 74.1 innings, 2.42 ERA, 69 strikeouts and 28 walks.
In Gibson's 10th start of the 1965 season, the Cardinals lost 2-0 on May 25 to the LA Dodgers – who went on to win the World Series that season. Flaherty's 10th start of the season will, likely, also come on May 25 when the Cardinals face the Chicago White Sox – who currently have best record in the American League.
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