Brewers' Hader makes MLB history with 8 strikeouts in under 3 innings
Josh Hader might be baseball's most dominant reliever. He certainly made his case with an obscene outing Monday.
The left-hander entered the Milwaukee Brewers' contest against the Cincinnati Reds with one out in the seventh inning and a one-run lead, and proceeded to pick the Reds apart.
.@jhader17 often gets compared to Randy Johnson.
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2018
The last pitcher to record a save of 8+ K's before Hader did tonight … the Big Unit himself. pic.twitter.com/0gEKSGmnch
He pitched 2 2/3 innings, recording all eight outs via strikeout en route to his fourth save of the campaign. The only blemish was a walk to Tucker Barnhart.
In the process, he became the first reliever in MLB history to record eight strikeouts in so brief an appearance, according to Baseball Reference. Seven relievers have punched out eight batters over three innings, but no one had ever done it in just 2 2/3.
Hader's also the first player since Randy Johnson in 1996 to record eight strikeouts during a save. It took the Big Unit four innings.
Obscure records notwithstanding, it was yet another impressive performance for Hader this season. He's now struck out 39 batters in 18 innings.