ANAHEIM – In a coming-out party two years ago, Matt Shoemaker won 16 games as he finished second in the voting for the American League Rookie of the Year.
But the right-hander has never had a run like this.
Until he walked Cleveland Indians designated hitter Carlos Santana in the top of the seventh inning Saturday night, he had struck out 49 batters without a walk, a franchise record and the third longest streak for a starting pitcher since 1974.
Shoemaker went four starts without walking a batter, the previous one coming on May 16, in the second inning of a win over the Dodgers where he saw Joc Pederson and Trayce Thompson reach first base in consecutive at-bats.