Pablo Lopez accomplished something no other pitcher in Major League Baseball history has done.
The Marlins right-hander opened Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves by striking out the first nine hitters that came to the plate.
It is the most consecutive strikeouts to open a game in major league history, surpassing the previous record of eight, which was held by Rockies’ German Marquez (2018), Mets’ Jacob deGrom (2014) and Astros’ Jim DeShaies (1986).
The streak came to an end in the top of the fourth when Ehire Adrianza grounded out to first base. The Braves actually managed to score two runs in the inning off Lopez, but the Marlins had already spotted him a 4-0 lead.
The record for most consecutive strikeouts in a game is 10, which is shared by Tom Seaver and Aaron Nola, the latter of which accomplished the feat earlier this year when the Phillies right-hander faced the Mets.
Lopez had entered Sunday’s game with a 2.94 ERA and a career-high 102 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched.
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