Spencer Strider sets Atlanta Braves record with 16 strikeouts

Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider delivers against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning in a MLB baseball game on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in Atlanta.   “Curtis Compton / Curtis Compton@ajc.com

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider delivers against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning in a MLB baseball game on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in Atlanta. “Curtis Compton / Curtis Compton@ajc.com

Spencer Strider set the Atlanta Braves record with 16 strikeouts Thursday at Truist Park, dominating the Rockies over eight scoreless frames. The Braves defeated the Rockies, 3-0, to win the series.

Of all the brilliant pitchers the Braves have had since moving to Atlanta in 1966, Strider achieved this mark during his rookie season at just age 23. He allowed two hits, working efficiently and powerfully. His velocity hovered in the high 90s and he touched triple digits.

“It’s pretty wild,” Strider said. “The guys who’ve thrown in this organization, it’s a long and incredible list. I’m just grateful to be here and having success.”

Strider’s 16 strikeouts were the most achieved by a Braves pitcher for Atlanta. John Smoltz held the previous record with 15 strikeouts. The Hall of Famer did it twice, against the Mets on April 10, 2005 and against the Expos on May 24, 1992.

“That’s saying something with all the Hall of Famers and great pitchers we’ve had come through here,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Strider’s record.

Warren Spahn holds the Braves’ franchise record with 18 strikeouts in a game against the Cubs during the 1952 season, when the Braves were in Boston. Spahn achieved that record pitching 15 innings, so Strider set the franchise high mark for non-extra-inning games.

Thursday was also Strider’s first time completing seven or more innings. He overpowered the Rockies with his fastball-slider combination. His slider produced 15 whiffs on 24 swings (63%). The flamethrower said he “lost track” of his strikeout total in the fifth, but when he came out of the game, teammates informed him he’d made history.

“Kyle (Wright) was telling me something about John Smoltz or whatever and I had no idea what he was talking about,” Strider said. “It didn’t make any sense. Then someone else said something and I just looked cross-eyed at them. They were like, ‘You know what just happened?’”

Strider retired the first 12 Rockies, seven via strikeout. All-Star C.J. Cron singled in the fifth for Colorado’s first hit. Strider fanned the next two and coaxed a grounder for the third out. Strider, a Clemson product, threw 102 pitches on the night (79 for strikes). It was the sixth time he’s thrown 100 or more pitches. Thursday was his fifth double-digit strikeout performance. His previous best was 13 strikeouts against the Phillies a month ago.

“Every inning I came in after three outs and I’d check the strikeout thing, and it just kept racking up quickly,” centerfielder Michael Harris, another rookie sensation on the Braves, said. “So I’m like, ‘Maybe he’s on something different tonight and trying to do something different.’ And he did. It’s crazy to break a record for such a great franchise.”

There was a small bit of trouble in the eighth inning, when Strider surrendered a double and first baseman Matt Olson botched a routine catch at first. The Rockies had runners at the corners with one out, threatening to rally (or at least sully Strider’s splendid evening). Strider followed by striking out Elehuris Montero and Sean Bouchard, his record-tying and record-setting strikeouts.

Olson’s error, then, made the historic night possible.

“That was very peculiar on his part,” Strider said, smiling. “Might be an ulterior motive there. But those things happen. … He’s going to make way more plays than he’ll make little errors like that.”

Strider owns a 2.67 ERA during his first full major-league season. He’s struck out 174 hitters, the fourth most in the National League and ninth most in the majors, across 114-2/3 innings. Hall of Famer Randy Johnson was the quickest to 200 strikeouts in 2001, when he reached that mark through 130-1/3 innings for the Diamondbacks.

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