Has any pitcher in a major league game ever had a three pitch inning?
I’m sure it has happened.
I’m pretty sure that Eric Gagne pitched an inning and he had 9 straight strikes for three strikeouts. That doesn’t really answer your question though.
Once again I am absolutely astounded at the information that can be found on the Internet. If I let myself weaken and succombed to the temptation, the links supplied in Diogenes the Cynic’s posting could keep me enthralled for weeks! Thanks for the info.
The OP is related to a trivia question I like to ask baseball nuts: What is a record that one can tie but never break?
Apparently I was wrong re Eric Gagne, nine pitch/3k innings…
In theory, it’s possible to have a one-pitch inning. Here’s how it works:
(1) First batter, hits a triple on the very first pitch.
(2) Before any pitch is made to the 2nd batter, runner attempts to steal home.
(3) Pitcher steps off the rubber and throws the ball to the catcher (doesn’t count as a pitch)
(4) Batter interferes with the play. Batter is out, runner returns to third base.
(5) 3rd and 4th batters, same thing happens.
I doubt this has ever happened, though…
More reasonably, it’s possible for a relief pitcher to do it: First two batters walk, relief pitcher comes in and gets the next batter to hit into a triple play. Pitcher is credited with one IP but only one ball pitched.
There are several, and most of them that I can think of involve the extreme ends of stats ranges, like a 0.00 ERA or a 1.000 batting average.
Put Josh Towers down for a 10-pitch, 3 strikeout inning. :eek:
ETA: The ball was the 9th pitch, too. :smack:
It is possible in theory to have a zero-pitch inning — a zero-pitch game, in fact.
If three consecutive batters refuse to enter the batter’s box due to some extenuating circumstances — a brawl, for instance, or for a lack of eligible players, or because (back in the day) a player might have refused to play against a team with a black player — the umpire can simply call strikes against the non-existent batters until the side is retired.
I doubt this happens often, but the provision exists in the rules.