(KMOX) - Jason Isrignhausen and Ray King. Dennis Eckersley and John Frascatore. Lee Smith and Mike Perez. The St. Louis Cardinals have had some dominating duos in the back end of their bullpen over the years. But Alex Reyes and Giovanny Gallegoes have pulled off a feat never seen before in a Cardinals uniform.
With Gallegoes' strikeout in the bottom of the ninth inning on Thursday in Milwaukee, he and Reyes became the first pair of Cardinals relievers to each record 90 strikeouts in the same season. Reyes tallied his 90th with a three strikeout performance Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Gallegoes actually got two Ks in the 8-5 comeback victory for St. Louis on Thursday and now has 91 on the season.
Leading the way in is the New York Yankees, who had four relievers posting 90 or more stirkeouts in the same season in 2018 (Dellin Betances, Chad Green, Aroldis Chapman and David Robertson), while the Houston Astros set the National League mark with three pitchers in 2003 (Octavio Dotel, Brad Lidge and Billy Wagner).
The Cardinals' pair have the highest strikeout rate on the team this year, with Reyes at 11.6 and Gallegoes at 10.6. And they lead the team in saves, as Reyes (29) was named to his first All-Star Game as he was among baseball's saves leaders in the first half of the season, but Gallegoes (11) has taken over the role in recent weeks.
Related
Gallegoes, 25, and Reyes, 27, are benefiting from the three-true-outcome era of baseball of course. As the league's strikeout rate has been on the rise the last two decades —going from 16.4% in 2005 to 24% in 2021.
© 2021 KMOX (Audacy). All rights reserved
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Follow KMOX
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram