Lance Lynn alternated strikes and balls in the first four pitches of his outing against JP Crawford.
The Seattle Mariners shortstop fouled out on the fifth pitch. Lynn then went to a substitution for a strikeout.
The streak set the tone for a banner day for the Chicago White Sox starter.
Lynn tied the franchise record for strikeouts in a game, finishing with 16 over seven innings in a 5-1 loss to the Mariners before 44,772 on Sunday at T-Mobile Park.
“Overall my performance was good today, but we lost,” Lynn said. “It doesn’t matter how many outs you have to win the game. It was a series loss for us and we have to win as many series as possible, and today we couldn’t do that.
The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in more than seven innings. The Mariners opened the game in the eighth with a three-point triple from Jarred Kelenic against reliever Reynaldo López.
Lynn’s 16 strikeouts tied Jack Harshman, who set the mark on July 25, 1954 in Boston in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Lynn’s 16th came in seventh when he fanned Mike Ford to end the inning.
“To be honest, you just want to pitch well,” Lynn said. “You don’t really start thinking about records or anything, especially like that in a single match situation. I didn’t know how many I had, to be honest with you.
“(Pitching coach) Ethan (Katz) said at one point, ‘Hey, you’ve got a career high,’ and I said, ‘What.’ After that, I said maybe I would go for a career throw as well.
Lynn’s previous high for strikeouts was 12, which he had achieved three times.
He had 33 swings and misses Sunday, the most of any pitcher in a game this season.
“The command was excellent, his sweeper was good, he felt his sweeper,” said manager Pedro Grifol. “Throwed, threw, threw in the area, cantilevered southpaws, used his change. He had done everything today. Thirty-three swings and misses is unheard of.
He struck out two batters in the first, second, third, fifth and seventh. And he struck out three in the fourth and sixth.
Lynn’s exit came when the Sox desperately needed length. The bullpen was taxed on a six-game road trip that included two 11-inning games and a start shortened by Mike Clevinger on Wednesday due to injury.
“My goal was to make sure no one was used,” Lynn said. “I’m a bit below that, but overall I had some good stuff. But they managed to scratch enough to win a game.
“This opportunity is why you come to the stadium and play the game and make sure you give it your all and give it your all. Today, overall, wasn’t bad, but it was a loss.
Lynn threw 114 pitches. He came out after Kolten Wong hit a bunt single to start the eighth.
“He knew we needed him and that’s what makes him great,” Grifol said. “It doesn’t matter what he’s done or his ERA or anything like that, it’s what he’s done in his career and who he is. He knew this club needed him today and he did. took the ball in the eighth and he wanted to go again.
“I can’t say enough about what he did today and what he showed in character.”
He entered with a 6.75 ERA for the season and was 0-2 with a 10.93 ERA in his previous three starts. It clicked on Sunday.
“I threw the ball well and mixed the throws well and kept them off balance,” Lynn said. “It was working.”
While Lynn had worked it all out on the mound, the offense couldn’t muster much.
The Sox’s only run came in sixth on an RBI single by Andrew Benintendi. They hit hard but found no space. The Sox were missing Tim Anderson, who was recovering from right shoulder pain that led to an early exit Saturday.
“You’re positive with Lance’s performance, but as an offense we understand we need to get more results and get more runs,” third baseman Jake Burger said. “It was a great pitching performance, positive there, but frustrating offensively.”
The Sox trailed 2-1 as López pitched with one over and two outs in the eighth. He walked two and Kelenic cleared the bases with the triple.
Despite Lynn’s historic performance, the Sox lost two of three in the series and went 2-4 on the trip.
“We have to keep working and grinding this thing out until we get some things at the plate,” Grifol said. “We have to get the ball in the air, we have to hit home runs and we have to get to base before those home runs. I trust these guys. I just have to keep working.
()
denverpost
