FOUR STRIKEOUTS IN ONE INNING

MLB Pitchers Who Struck Out Four Batters in an Inning | Baseball Almanac

It's one of the most interesting pitching feats in baseball. Maybe one of the most confusing as well. Three strikeouts in one inning is definitely respectable, a pitcher's goal every time they toe the rubber, but FOUR in one inning? Yes, it happens, and more often than you'd think.

So how are four strikeouts in an inning possible? A batter with two strikes on him takes a swing at strike three; however, the catcher does not field the ball cleanly, and instead of tagging the runner out, the runner reaches. The strikeout is recorded, but not the out.

It takes a special battery (catcher / pitcher) to shake off the embarrassment of allowing a runner you just struck out to get on base. Ed Crane was the first pitcher to strikeout four batters in the same inning. Walter Johnson did it first in the American League. Here are the twirlers who defied the odds, and struck out four batters in a single inning. Research by Baseball Almanac.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"A curve ball is not something you can pick up overnight. It took me years to perfect mine." - Gibson, Bob. Hall of Fame Pitcher [First Cardinal With Four Strikeout Frame]. From Ghetto to Glory: The Story of Bob Gibson Pepe, Phil & Gibson, Bob. Authors. Responsive Environments Publishers. 1 January 1970. Page 56.

Four Strikeouts In One Inning by American League Pitchers

American League Pitchers Who Struck Out Four Batters in One Inning

American League Pitchers Who Struck Out Four Batters in One Inning

1. 4. Walter Johnson (1) Washington Senators (1) 04-15-1911 5th
2. 5. Guy Morton (1) Cleveland Indians (1) 06-11-1916 6th
3. 8. Ryne Duren (1) Los Angeles Angels (1) 05-18-1961 7th
4. 10. Lee Stange (1) Cleveland Indians (2) 09-02-1964 7th
5. 13. Mike Cuellar (1) Baltimore Orioles (1) 05-29-1970 4th
6. 16. Mike Paxton (1) Cleveland Indians (3) 07-21-1978 5th
7. 19. Bobby Witt (1) Texas Rangers (1) 08-02-1987 2nd
8. 20. Charlie Hough (1) Texas Rangers (2) 07-04-1988 1st
9. 23. Matt Young (1) Seattle Mariners (1) 09-09-1990 1st
10. 24. Paul Shuey (1) Cleveland Indians (4) 05-14-1994 9th
11. 27. Kevin Appier (1) Kansas City Royals (1) 09-03-1996 4th
12. 29. Wilson Alvarez (1) Chicago White Sox (1) 07-21-1997 7th
13. 30. Blake Stein (1) Oakland Athletics (1) 07-27-1998 4th
14. 33. Chuck Finley (1) Anaheim Angels (2) 05-12-1999 3rd
15. 35. Tim Wakefield (1) Boston Red Sox (1) 08-10-1999 9th
16. 36. Chuck Finley (2) Anaheim Angels (3) 08-15-1999 1st
17. 38. Chuck Finley (3) Cleveland Indians (5) 04-16-2000 3rd
18. 39. Erik Hiljus (1) Oakland Athletics (2) 06-30-2001 7th
19. 43. Kazuhiro Sasaki (1) Seattle Mariners (2) 04-04-2003 9th
20. 50. Scott Baker (1) Minnesota Twins (2) 06-15-2008 3rd
21. 51. Scot Shields (1) Los Angeles Angels (4) 06-21-2008 8th
22. 54. Felix Hernandez (1) Seattle Mariners (3) 06-03-2010 8th
23. 56. A.J. Burnett (2) New York Yankees (1) 06-24-2011 6th
24. 57. Justin Masterson (1) Cleveland Indians (6) 08-04-2011 2nd
25. 58. Jeremy Hellickson (1) Tampa Bay Rays (1) 08-25-2011 3rd
26. 61. Ryan Cook (1) Oakland Athletics (3) 04-27-2012 8th
27. 62. Francisco Liriano (1) Minnesota Twins (3) 06-05-2012 4th
28. 63. Steve Delabar (1) Toronto Blue Jays (1) 08-13-2012 10th
29. 65. Phil Hughes (1) New York Yankees (2) 09-20-2012 4th
30. 66. Zack Greinke (1) Los Angeles Angels (5) 09-25-2012 4th
31. 69. Alex Cobb (1) Tampa Bay Rays (2) 05-10-2013 3rd
32. 70. Anibal Sanchez (1) Detroit Tigers (1) 10-12-2013 1st
33. 78. Tyler Duffey (1) Minnesota Twins (4) 05-08-2016 7th
34. 80. Ken Giles (1) Houston Astros (5 / 4 in N.L.) 08-07-2016 9th
35. 82. James Paxton (1) Seattle Mariners (4) 09-06-2016 1st
36. 84. Nate Karns (1) Kansas City Royals (2) 05-03-2017 6th
37. 85. Craig Kimbrel (2) Boston Red Sox (2) 05-25-2017 9th
38. 86. Mike Bolsinger (1) Toronto Blue Jays (2) 07-18-2017 13th
39. 88. Zach Duke (1) Minnesota Twins (5) 03-29-2018 7th
40. 89. Ryan Dull (1) Oakland Athletics (4) 04-17-2018 8th
41. 92. Luke Bard (1) Los Angeles Angels (6) 04-22-2019 14th
42. 93. Tyler Glasnow (1) Tampa Bay Rays (2) 04-23-2021 1st
43. 94. Lance McCullers Jr. (1) Houston Astros (6 / 4 in N.L.) 05-22-2021 1st
44. 96. Jonathan Loaisiga (1) New York Yankees (3) 06-25-2021 7th
45. 97. Domingo German (1) New York Yankees (4) 07-25-2021 7th
46. 101. Brady Singer (0 | 2ks) Minnesota Twins (6) 04-30-2023 3rd
Josh Staumont (0 | 2ks)
47. 102. Tyler Glasnow (2) Tampa Bay Rays (3) 07-07-2023 2nd
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Four Strikeouts In One Inning by National League Pitchers

National League Pitchers Who Struck Out Four Batters in One Inning

National League Pitchers Who Struck Out Four Batters in One Inning

1. 1. Ed Crane (1) New York Gothams (1) 10-04-1888 5th
2. 2. Hooks Wiltse (1) New York Giants (2) 05-15-1906 5th
3. 3. Orval Overall (1) Chicago Cubs (1) 10-14-1908 1st
4. 6. Jim Davis (1) Chicago Cubs (2) 05-27-1956 6th
5. 7. Joe Nuxhall (1) Cincinnati Reds (1) 08-11-1959 6th
6. 9. Pete Richert (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (1) 04-12-1962 3rd
7. 11. Don Drysdale (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (2) 04-17-1965 2nd
8. 12. Bob Gibson (1) St. Louis Cardinals (1) 06-07-1966 4th
9. 14. Bill Bonham (1) Chicago Cubs (3) 07-31-1974 2nd
10. 15. Phil Niekro (1) Atlanta Braves (1) 07-29-1977 6th
11. 17. Mario Soto (1) Cincinnati Reds (2) 05-17-1984 3rd
12. 18. Mike Scott (1) Houston Astros (1) 09-03-1986 5th
13. 21. Paul Assenmacher (1) Atlanta Braves (2) 08-22-1989 5th
14. 22. Tim Birtsas (1) Cincinnati Reds (3) 06-04-1990 7th
15. 25. Mark Wohlers (1) Atlanta Braves (3) 06-07-1995 9th
16. 26. Bruce Ruffin (1) Colorado Rockies (1) 07-25-1996 9th
17. 28. Derek Wallace (1) New York Mets (1) 09-13-1996 9th
18. 31. Kirt Ojala (1) Florida Marlins (1) 09-16-1998 4th
19. 32. Archie Corbin (1) Florida Marlins (2) 04-28-1999 7th
20. 34. Jerry Spradlin (1) San Francisco Giants (3) 07-22-1999 7th
21. 37. Steve Kline (1) Montreal Expos (1) 08-17-1999 7th
22. 40. Frankie Rodriguez (1) Cincinnati Reds (4) 07-22-2001 7th
23. 41. A.J. Burnett (1) Florida Marlins (3) 07-05-2002 1st
24. 42. Kerry Wood (1) Chicago Cubs (4) 09-02-2002 4th
25. 44. Darren Dreifort (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (3) 05-22-2003 2nd
26. 45. Octavio Dotel (1) Houston Astros (2) 06-11-2003 8th
27. 46. Brad Lidge (1) Houston Astros (3) 06-13-2004 7th
28. 47. Mike Stanton (1) New York Mets (2) 08-03-2004 8th
29. 48. Jon Rauch (1) Washington Nationals (2) 04-26-2006 8th
30. 49. Brad Penny (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (4) 09-23-2006 2nd
31. 52. Ryan Dempster (1) Chicago Cubs (5) 10-04-2009 5th
32. 53. Luke Gregerson (1) San Diego Padres (1) 10-04-2009 7th
33. 55. Manny Parra (1) Milwaukee Brewers (1) 06-06-2010 4th
34. 59. Yovani Gallardo (1) Milwaukee Brewers (2) 09-17-2011 5th
35. 60. Bud Norris (1) Houston Astros (4) 04-24-2012 3rd
36. 64. Jason Berken (1) Chicago Cubs (6) 09-20-2012 2nd
37. 67. Craig Kimbrel (1) Atlanta Braves (4) 09-26-2012 9th
38. 68. Tony Cingrani (1) Cincinnati Reds (5) 04-28-2013 4th
39. 71. Zack Greinke (2) Los Angeles Dodgers (5) 07-25-2014 3rd
40. 72. Justin Grimm (1) Chicago Cubs (7) 08-29-2014 9th
41. 73. Oliver Perez (1) Arizona Diamondbacks (1) 09-20-2014 7th
42. 74. Kenley Jansen (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (6) 05-15-2015 8th
43. 75. Sergio Santos (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (7) 05-16-2015 8th
44. 76. Will Smith (1) Milwaukee Brewers (3) 10-04-2015 9th
45. 77. Jerry Blevins (0 | 2 Ks) New York Mets (3) 04-17-2016 9th
Addison Reed (0 | 2Ks)
46. 79. Julio Teheran (1) Atlanta Braves (5) 05-24-2016 2nd
47. 81. Jake Thompson (1) Philadelphia Phillies (1) 08-12-2016 2nd
48. 83. Jon Gray (1) Colorado Rockies (2) 09-17-2016 2nd
49. 87. Zack Godley (1) Arizona Diamondbacks (2) 08-13-2017 1st
50. 90. Miguel Diaz (1) San Diego Padres (2) 07-08-2018 11th
51. 91. German Marquez (1) Colorado Rockies (3) 10-01-2018 4th
52. 95. Clayton Kershaw (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (8) 06-11-2021 4th
53. 98. Craig Stammen (1) San Diego Padres (3) 09-24-2021 6th
54. 99. Michael Rucker (1) Chicago Cubs (8) 04-30-2022 5th
55. 100. Chris Martin (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (9) 08-15-2022 6th
56. xx. -- -- xx-xx-xxxx --
Four Strikeout Innings | Research by Baseball Almanac
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In the American League, the following pitchers struck out all four batters in consecutive order: Scott Baker, A.J. Burnett, Mike Cuellar, Mike Paxton, Bobby Witt, Kevin Appier, Wilson Alvarez, Chuck Finley, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Justin Masterson, Jeremy Hellickson, Ryan Cook, Steve Delabar, Phil Hughes, Alex Cobb, Nathan Karns, Craig Kimbrel, Lance McCullers Jr., Jonathan LoƔisiga, Domingo German, and Tyler Glasnow (2023).

In the National League, the following pitchers struck out all four batters in consecutive order: Ed Crane, Hooks Wiltse, Jim Davis, Pete Richert, Don Drysdale, Bill Bonham, Kirt Ojala, Steve Kline, Octavio Dotel, Jason Berken, Craig Kimbrel, Zack Greinke, Kenley Jansen, and Clayton Kershaw.

On September 30, 1885, Bobby Mathews became the first and only pitcher in the American Association to strikeout four batters in an inning. In the 1908 World Series, Orval Overall became the first and only pitcher to accomplish the feat during a Fall Classic. In 2018, German Marquez because the first and only pitcher to accomplish the feat in a tiebreaker game.