CHICAGO -- Ildemaro Vargas didn't wait long to extend his hitting streak, singling to center field off Colin Rea in the top of the first inning at Wrigley Field.
The Diamondbacks infielder has opened the season by hitting in 24 straight games, and 27 dating back to last year. It is the longest streak by a Venezuelan-born player, eclipsing the previous mark of 26 set by Wilson Ramos of the Mets in 2019.
Vargas didn't stop there, picking up a hit his next three times up -- an RBI single in the third, as well as singles in the fifth and sixth. Vargas walked leading off the ninth inning of Arizona's 6-5 loss to Chicago, finishing the game with a Majors-high batting average of .404.
It was the fourth time in his career that Vargas had four hits in a game and his third time reaching base five times. His career high in hits for a game is five, which he accomplished on May 24, 2019.
The last time Vargas had four hits in a game was Sept. 24, 2019.
The 24 straight is the second-longest streak to open a season since 1940. The Tigers’ Ron LeFlore is the leader thanks to his 30-game streak to open the 1976 season.
The 27-game streak dating back to last season is the longest active streak in MLB, and it's the longest since Trea Turner also hit in 27 straight from Sept. 12, 2021, through April 16, 2022. For hitting streaks of more than 27 games, this is the longest since Whit Merrifield's 31-game streak from Sept. 10, 2018, through April 10, 2019.
"He's seeing the ball well,” Rea said. “I mean, we tried to get him with some heaters and he was on those. He's taking good at-bats right now. And obviously, he's confident. He's seeing the ball well, he's seeing the ball deep, but also he's got good enough hands to get to the heater at the top. He's just kind of in a zone right now where he's seeing the ball well. You've just got to keep attacking him and trying to find weaknesses. It's hard to find weaknesses when the guy's hot like that. You've just got to keep being aggressive."
Among Diamondbacks single-season hit streaks, the 24 games ties for second with Tony Womack (24 in 2000) behind Luis Gonzalez (30 in 1999).
Including hit streaks that span multiple seasons, Vargas’ 27-game streak is second behind Gonzalez.
Vargas is on his third stint with the Diamondbacks. He has played parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues, but he has never had the kind of success he's having now.
Vargas was on MLB Network before the game, and all his teammates stopped what they were doing in the clubhouse to gather and watch.
"He deserves that attention," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said not long after the interview concluded. “And all those things don't happen by accident or because he's lucky. He's paid his dues, and he's worked his butt off, and he's learned how to play the game at a very high level. It's all paying off for him and I enjoyed it. I sat there inside of this clubhouse with the rest of the team and enjoyed watching him get this attention. It's a special moment for him."