Cubs pick up one of the rarest wins in MLB history after 24 strikeouts

By Ross Kelly June 3, 2018 at 11:24am

The Cubs went down swinging, literally, in their Saturday win over the Mets, as their 24 strikeouts marked the second-most by a team in a win since the mounds were moved in 1893.

The Cubs struck out 24 times Saturday, the 2nd-most strikeouts at the plate by a team in a win since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893.

h/t @EliasSports

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2018

Their 14-inning affair with the Mets saw no runs scored between the eighth and 13th innings until the Cubs broke though with six in the top of the 14th on their way to a 7-1 victory.

A six-run margin of victory in extra innings is quite rare, but it’s still just half the MLB record for run differential in an extra-inning game.

In 1983, the Rangers defeated the Athletics by 12 runs in a 15-inning game.

However, the biggest talking point that emerged Saturday was the Cubs’ inability to make contact for most of the game.

Eleven of the 13 Cubs who had a plate appearance struck out at least once, and eight different players finished with multiple strikeouts.

Kris Bryant and Addison Russell led the way with four strikeouts apiece, while Jason Heyward, who went 4-for-5, was the only Cub who didn’t strike out and had more than one at-bat.

This was actually the second time this season that Chicago struck out at least 20 times in a game, and with over 100 games remaining, they have a chance to set an MLB record.

The Cubs are the 3rd team since the mound moved to its current distance in 1893 to have multiple 20-K games at the plate in the same season, along with the 1967 Senators and 2004 Brewers, who each had 2 such games.

h/t @EliasSports

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2018

Mets starter Jacob deGrom moved into second place in the National League in strikeouts after whiffing 13 Cubs. He got a no-decision but generated lots of praise from the Cubs afterward, per ESPN.

“He was unbelievable,” said Albert Almora Jr., who struck out three times in the game.

“It’s been a while since I faced a pitcher like that. Everything was moving away from my barrel. His fastball had some late life, his slider was sharp, and he threw me one of the nastiest changeups I’ve ever seen.”

The Cubs weren’t the only ones struggling to make contact, as the Mets also struck out 15 times.

The 39 combined strikeouts were the most in a game this season, but not close to the MLB record.

There were plenty strikeouts to go around in New York on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/N01hiBmQPQ

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2018

In an 18-inning affair last year against the Yankees, the Cubs struck out 26 times, which tied the MLB record for most strikeouts by a team in a game.

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