For the first time in Craig Kimbrel's career, someone hit a homer off his curveball
Harper first player to hit HR off Kimbrel's curve
Would you like to know how good Craig Kimbrel is? Well, the Braves closer has amassed 183 saves through his age-26 season. Through that point in their careers, Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera had accumulated 30 and five, respectively.
But that doesn't even begin to demonstrate Kimbrel's domination. It took more than 283 innings over 288 appearances before a batter was able to hit Kimbrel's curveball for a home run.
The guy who broke the streak? Bryce Harper:
Harper's turning monumental firsts into a habit of his down the stretch. Just last month he became the first left-handed batter to notch an RBI off Clayton Kershaw this season ... an RBI he earned by becoming the first left-handed batter to homer off Kershaw this year, too.
To Kimbrel's credit, he stuck to the plan and helped the Braves escape with a 6-2 win.