Rangers' Heaney Ties AL Mark With 9 Straight Ks Vs. Royals

ARLINGTON (Texas) -- Andrew Heaney, left-hander for the Texas Rangers, set an AL record Monday night by striking out nine batters consecutively against the Kansas City Royals.

Heaney beat the record set by Detroit reliever Tyler Alexander, against Cincinnati on August 2, 2020, and Detroit reliever Doug Fister, against Kansas City on September 27, 2012.

The New York Mets' Tom Seaver set the major league record for consecutive strikesouts at 10, which was matched by Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies on June 25, 2021, and Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers on August 11, 2021.

Heaney got his first out when he fanned Edward Olivares, with only one runner on in that first. Heaney struck out Nicky Lopez after the Royals scored an unearned base run.

Heaney took Hunter Dozier and Nate Eaton down swinging, while Jackie Bradley Jr. was looking for five consecutive. The third saw Bobby Witt Jr. and Edward Olivares swinging, while Vinnie Pasquantino was also out swinging.

Heaney's ninth consecutive win came against Salvador Perez. Perez went down swinging to start the fourth. Duffy became the Royals' first batter to record an RBI on a ball in play, a flyball to the right.

After five innings and ten Ks, Heaney was out. Heaney allowed two hits, two runs and one run unearned.

Heaney broke Nolan Ryan’s club record of consecutive strikeouts in one game with seven. Ryan struck out seven times against the California Angels in a row on July 7, 1991.

Heaney signed as a free agent with Texas last December. He had a rough start to his Rangers debut. He allowed seven runs and only eight outs in a 7-2 loss against Baltimore.