Bradley sets Twins mark with 10 consecutive outs via K's

HOUSTON -- In just his 22nd start in a Twins uniform, Taj Bradley etched his name in the club’s record book.

Bradley racked up 11 strikeouts over five innings for the win as Minnesota beat the Astros, 8-3, at Daikin Park, and along the way, he assembled a streak of 10 consecutive outs by strikeout. It was the longest such streak by any Twins pitcher since the franchise moved to Minnesota in 1961.

“That's cool, a record like that,” Bradley said.

Making it perhaps more impressive than a conventional strikeout streak was the fact that Bradley did much of the work with traffic on the bases.

He struck out Christian Walker to end the first inning, then he allowed a double and a walk to start the second before fanning the next three batters. In the third, Bradley got a leadoff strikeout against Jose Altuve before Houston managed a pair of singles. Once again, Bradley pitched his way out of the threat, fanning Walker and Cam Smith.

“I don't think [it’s] a challenge at all,” he said. “It's [like] pitching with nobody on. Just keep the same mentality, throw strikes. Find your cues and stuff like that when you can to keep runs from scoring and keep the guys stationary where they are.”

Bradley struck out the side in order in the fourth before Houston finally made an out on a ball in play, Nick Allen’s grounder to third base to lead off the fifth.

Acquired from the Rays for Griffin Jax last year, Bradley has established himself as a key part of the Twins' rotation. He’s amassed 29 strikeouts over his last four starts and ranks 11th in the American League with 102 total K's despite missing two starts due to injury in May.

“[He] really has not let anything affect him,” said manager Derek Shelton. “He’s just gone out and … in today’s game he just kind of took it into his own hands. He just said, all right, we’re going to go punchouts. And he had, what, 11 total and a bunch in a row. So, overall, really good outing.”