Thursday, August 14, 2008

Brad Ziegler's Scoreless IP Streak Ends

It's widely-argued that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in team sports. But pitching a shutout is equally as impressive.

Brad Ziegler started his Major League Baseball career with 39 scoreless innings.
"I didn't think about the streak until I started walking back on the mound," Ziegler said. "The first thought that popped in my head was, 'I can't believe that just happened with a runner on first,' but I guess the good thing it wasn't a cheap one. A whole bunch of things fell at once and so that way there's no pressure from this point on."

Ziegler, Oakland's rookie reliever who began the season in the minors, has been one of the few highlights for Oakland in the second half, setting numerous records including the most shutout innings by any pitcher to start a career. The right-hander extended that mark to tie the major league single-season record for consecutive scoreless innings by a reliever set by Cleveland's Al Benton in 1949.

"It's almost been like a no-hitter type streak or something," A's manager Bob Geren said. "Unbelievable what he's done, but I'll get him right back out and try to start another one. He's been tremendous."
What's amazing is he's reliever pitching an inning or two here and there. When a starting pitcher is on, it's understandable that he pitches 9 scoreless, consecutive innings. But to have the stuff to go out there 30 times and not give up a run is amazing.

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