WASHINGTON – One week after Nick Markakis set a major league record for errorless games by an outfielder, the Braves right fielder’s streak ended with a first-inning error Thursday against the Nationals.
Markakis’ streak of 398 consecutive errorless games as an outfielder was snapped when he misplayed Denard Span’s leadoff single, allowing Span to advance to second base. One sacrifice bunt later, Span scored on Yunel Escobar’s groundout, an unearned run that gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead against Matt Wisler in the rookie’s second start.
A two-time American League Gold Glove winner, Markakis broke the previous record of 392 consecutive errorless outfield games by Darren Lewis during the 1990-1994 seasons. Before Thursday, his last error was in August 2012, when Markakis was in his seventh of nine seasons with the Orioles.
Excluding pitchers, the longest position-player errorless streaks in major league history are all by outfielders.
Markakis signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves in December, two weeks before having neck surgery to repair a herniated disk. Markakis couldn’t work out during the offseason after surgery, missed most of spring training while working himself back into shape, and didn’t play his first Grapefruit League game until March 23.
Markakis was on the opening-day roster and has started a team-high 71 of the Braves’ 73 games, batting .305 with 16 doubles, no homers, 21 RBIs and a .394 on-base percentage before Thursday.
