Rays halt Ziegler’s streak

Posted Aug 14, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Aug 14, 2008 at 05:42 PM

OAKLAND—The Rays just stopped the longest scoreless streak by a major-league reliever in 59 years.

B.J. Upton’s double to left in the ninth inning not only gave the Rays a 5-4 lead, it also snapped A’s rookie Brad Ziegler’s career-opening scoreless run at 39 innings. That tied the big-league record for consecutive scoreless innings in a single season, established by Al Benton of the Indians in 1949.

Though the run gave the Rays a lead, the fans at McAfee Coliseum gave Ziegler a standing ovation in recognition of his feat.

Ziegler previously had shattered the modern-day record for scoreless innings to open a career, 25, which was set by George McQuillan of the Phillies in 1907. He ended u with the longest scoreles streak for an A’s pitcher since Jack Coombs’ franchise-record mark of 53 innings for the 1910 Philadelphia A’s.