#38 08/12/74 – Anaheim Stadium – Nolan Ryan’s 19 Strikeouts

Three times during the 1974 season, flamethrower Nolan Ryan struck out 19 batters in a game. The first time was against the Red Sox (06/14/74), but it took him 13 innings to do it; and he ended up with a no-decision. He accomplished the feat again in 11 innings on Aug. 20 in a 1-0 loss to the Tigers. In between these two marathon efforts, Ryan struck out 19 Red Sox again – but this time in a nine inning game, tying the ML record for most strikeouts in a nine inning game.

In that game, Ryan fanned the side in the second, fourth, and eighth innings. The Red Sox touched him for a run in the fifth, but the Angels scored three in the fourth, and another in the fifth.

As Ryan took the mound in the ninth, his team led 4-1. His 17 strikeouts were one short of the AL record of 18, two short of the ML record. Yastrzemski drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Evans then singled, advancing Yaz to third. Nolan struck out Rick Miller looking – tying Bob Feller’s AL record. Griffen reached on an error, and Yaz scored. With two on, Boston now had the winning run at the plate in the form of Bernie Carbo. Nolan struck out Carbo swinging for strikeout #19, tying the ML record jointly held by Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton. Rick Burlson, the only Red Sox batter not to strike out, flew out to right for the final out of the game.

Ryan victims that night were: Juan Beniquez, Cecil Cooper (2), Rico Petrocelli (4), Carl Yastrzemski, Dwight Evans (3), Rick Miller (3), Doug Griffin, Bob Montgomery (3), and Bernie Carbo.