Tampa Bay Rays set MLB postseason record with 18 strikeouts

The Tampa Bay Rays have etched themselves in the baseball record books after they accomplished something on Tuesday night that had never been done before in Major League history during a nine-inning game.

During the second game of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, the Rays pitching staff racked up a total of 18 strikeouts during the 9 innings of play, becoming the first time in baseball history to accomplish that feat. They surpassed the five teams that had 17 strikeouts in game, including a time at their own expense set last year against the Houston Astros.

The Rays previous postseason team record for strikeouts in a game came during last year’s ALDS with the Houston Astros when the Rays set down 13 Astros in a game three victory.

Meanwhile, the 18 strikeouts marks just the 6th time in franchise history the Rays have struck out that at least that many players in a game; the team record is 19, set on July 27th, 2020 against the Atlanta Braves.

For the Rays during their record breaking feat, Tyler Glasnow did the bulk of the work as he retired 10 hitters on strikes. Then came Diego Castillo with two, followed by Nick Anderson with four, and lastly it was Pete Fairbanks who tied and then surpassed the record with two in the 9th inning.

Glasnow’s 10 strikeouts during his outing set a new postseason record for a Rays starting pitcher, surpassing three previous pitchers that recorded 9 strikeouts in a start, including Snell last week in the previous round against the Blue Jays.

Meanwhile, Nick Anderson’s four strikeouts in relief tied him with three others for the reliever record for a Rays pitcher; Anderson also struck out four during the Wild Card game in 2019 against Oakland.

To relive the strikeouts in all of their glory, you can see each one in the video below.