SAN DIEGO -- Cristopher Sánchez has etched his name into the Phillies’ record book.
With seven more scoreless innings in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Padres at Petco Park, Sánchez surpassed Hall of Famer Grover Alexander for the longest scoreless innings streak by any Phillies pitcher since 1893 (when the mound moved to its current distance). The left-hander’s streak is up to 44 2/3 consecutive innings (and counting), eclipsing Alexander's 41-inning streak as a rookie in 1911.
The Phillies toasted Sánchez in the visiting clubhouse following the game.
“It was incredible,” Sánchez said. “It's really special what we have here as a group, as an organization as a whole -- the players, the staff, the medical staff. So it's just really special to share things like this with this tremendous group that we have here.”
Sánchez’s record-breaking day wasn’t without drama, though.
Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets hit a loud 339-foot flyout to end the third inning, then Manny Machado started the fourth with a towering fly ball to left field that sent left fielder Edmundo Sosa racing back to the wall before ultimately settling underneath it on the warning track for a 356-foot flyout.
“There were a couple hits that I thought were gone off the bat,” Sánchez said. “But, thank God they weren’t.”
Later in the fourth, Ramón Laureano ripped a two-out double to put a runner in scoring position with the streak hanging in the balance. But Sánchez got Jackson Merrill to roll a ball to second baseman Bryson Stott for the franchise-record-clinching out.
Then, in the sixth, Justin Crawford sprinted 114 feet to rob Machado with a leaping catch before crashing into the wall.
“We had him, dude,” Machado said. “We had really good at-bats. Overall, great at-bats. Just a better pitcher.”
Sánchez's record-setting streak dates back to the second inning of his April 30 start against the Giants. To put in perspective just how long it's been since Sánchez gave up a run, the last time a team scored off him came a few hours before the 76ers tipped off just across the street for Game 6 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Celtics.
Co-ace Zack Wheeler had made only one start at that point (he's now 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA in six starts). Interim manager Don Mattingly was wrapping up his first series at the helm. The Phillies were just 10-19 at the time.
A lot has changed since then -- but not Sánchez's run total. Here's a look at the five longest streaks by Phillies pitchers since 1893:
1. Cristopher Sánchez (2026): 44 2/3 IP
2. Grover Alexander (1911): 41 IP
3. Cliff Lee (2011): 34 IP
4t. Larry Andersen (1984): 32 2/3 IP
4t. Turk Farrell (1957-58): 32 2/3 IP
“He’s been really good for quite a long time now,” said shortstop Trea Turner, who homered for the second straight game. “When you're that consistent, you're going to start putting your name up there with those other guys. This is a very historic franchise, so any time you can be at the top of something here, I think it’s pretty special. He deserves it.”
Sánchez still has a ways to go for the all-time record. That belongs to Dodgers legend Orel Hershiser, who went 59 straight innings without allowing a run in 1988.
Sánchez’s streak of 44 2/3 innings is the seventh longest in a single season in the Live Ball Era (since 1920). He could jump as high as third in his next outing (which, while not official yet, lines up to come against these same Padres next week in Philadelphia). Here’s who he’s chasing:
1. Orel Hershiser: 59 IP (1988)
2. Don Drysdale: 58 IP (1968)
3. Bob Gibson: 47 IP (1968)
4. Zack Greinke: 45 2/3 IP (2015)
5. Carl Hubbell: 45 1/3 IP (1933)
6. Sal Maglie: 45 IP (1950)
7. Cristopher Sánchez: 44 2/3 (2026)
Sánchez, though, has already matched Hershiser in one respect. With his next start coming in June, how about this for Sánchez’s month of May?
• 5 starts
• 39 innings
• 45 strikeouts
• 3 walks
• 0 runs
Sánchez and Hershiser are the only true starters in MLB history to record an entire scoreless month (minimum four starts). While Hershiser went more innings (55) in September 1988, he had fewer strikeouts (34) and more walks (nine).
“It's a lot of fun right now,” catcher J.T. Realmuto said. “I mean, he's just been so dominant. He makes my job easy. It's kind of like playing a video game back there. I just press buttons and then he executes.”
Sánchez, though, is quick to deflect the praise right back on his teammates -- just as he did in his postgame speech after being recognized in the clubhouse.
“I just told them that it was something special for me. It's really special to have their support,” Sánchez said. “ … This is a game that's not only about me or what I do on the mound. It's about our group, and I think it's really something special and beautiful to feel the support of the team as a whole.”
So, how would the Cy Young contender rate his speech?
“I didn't do a good job,” Sánchez said, “but it's OK.”
Safe to say, he can just let his pitching do the talking.