Bramos' Beat the Streak bid concludes at 41 games

The streak might be over for Bob Bramos, but surely the dream is not.

Bramos, a 32-year-old resident of Troy, Mich., flirted with history by reaching 40 games in hopes of capturing the elusive Beat the Streak grand prize of $5.6 million, but, alas, Sunday proved to be the end of his streak. He did not reach 41.

Bramos' selection for Sunday, the Cardinals' Matt Carpenter, flied out to left field twice, hit into a double play, and in his last at-bat of St. Louis' Sunday night loss to Atlanta, flied out to center field, temporarily dashing Bramos' hopes with an 0-for-4 effort.

Beat the Streak participants try to establish a virtual hitting streak by picking one or two big leaguers per day, with their streaks continuing as long as their selections collect at least one hit that day. In 13-plus seasons of BTS play, no one has matched Joe DiMaggio's magic hitting streak of 56, set in 1941. To win the $5.6 million grand prize, one must surpass Joe D.'s record streak.

"Carpenter just felt right tonight," Bramos said after the fateful game had ended. "He did not get a hit yesterday and his team was due to have a good game. It's too bad it's all over. I had a great time."

Now Bramos must start all over again, but he's going about it with a good attitude.

"I have so much fun playing and will continue to as long as you guys keep the game going," Bramos said. "Now that it is over I am going to cash in my two tickets to a Tigers game and have a fun night out."

Bramos is the seventh Streaker to enter "Club 40" during the 2013 season. In the first 13 years of BTS combined, only 32 contestants reached the 40-game plateau.