K-razy

I visited the Retrosheet site today (I added a link under Around the Horn) and was just surfing around because I never really checked it out. I came upon a section where outstanding game performances are listed and noticed that Nolan Ryan struck out 19 batters three times in a game in 1974 for the Angels. Two of these were in extra innings, but nonetheless, a remarkable feat. I also noticed Ryan was 1-1 with a no decision in those games. Remarkable, too, I think.

He got the ND in a 15-inning game in which he lasted only 13 innings. His counterpart, the Red Sox's Luis Tiant, went the distance in taking the loss, 4-3. Interestingly, Tiant had a 19-K game in 1968, going the distance as his Indians beat the Twins, 1-0, in 10 innings.

Ryan later in 1974 beat the Red Sox, 4-2, with a complete game, 19-K effort. Eight days later, Ryan lost a 19-K game, 1-0 in 11 innings, to Mickey Lolich and the Tigers. Both Ryan and Lolich went the distance. The time of the game was 2:41.

In 1977, Ryan struck out 19 Blue Jays in 10 innings of work, but got a no decision as the Angels needed 13 innings to win, 2-1.

Randy Johnson must have attended the Ryan school of hard luck; he got a ND in his 20-K game in 2001 and was 1-1 in 19-K games in 1997. He also had a ND in an 18-K game in 1992.

Pitchers with at least 18 Ks in a game are 18-4 with 5 ND in MLB history, so you can see Ryan and Johnson were anomalies.