Chapman Dominates for Sox With 4 Strikeouts in an Inning as His Nasty Streak Continues

  • ESPN News Services

Sep 8, 2025, 01:24 AM

Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman, who at 37 is as dominant as he has been in his career, added to his “special” season by striking out four batters in an inning Sunday.

The eight-time All-Star, who signed a $13.3 million contract for 2026 last week, is enjoying one of the most dominating runs by a relief pitcher in baseball history.

Locating his off-speed pitches with the 100-plus mph fastball, Chapman has gone 17 straight appearances — spanning 14⅔ innings — without allowing a hit, dating to July 26. It’s the third-longest streak since 1901, trailing only the 20 straight by the Marlins’ Randy Choate in 2011 and 18 consecutive by Tim Byrdak of the New York Mets in 2012.

“This is special,” said Boston manager Alex Cora, who earned his 600th career win with Sunday’s 7-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. “To do it at this age and where we’re at as an industry, as far as the hitters and the adjustments they make, it’s unreal.”

Chapman has allowed one earned run in his past 37 games — a solo homer by Philadelphia Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto on July 23 — and retired 21 straight batters before Arizona’s Ildemaro Vargas reached first after striking out on a wild pitch Sunday.

Chapman then closed out his 29th save by striking out Jordan Lawlar to become the second pitcher to record four K’s in an inning this season, joining St. Louis Cardinals’ Steven Matz, who did it in June. Chapman has allowed six earned runs all season and dropped his ERA to 0.98 with Sunday’s performance.

“He’s so nasty, and showing people he can still do a lot of great things,” Red Sox starter Brayan Bello said.

Chapman built his reputation as a power pitcher through 16 years of routinely popping 100 mph on the radar gun. He has clocked eight of the nine fastest pitches in baseball history, including 105.1 mph last season, and his 105.8 mph pitch during his 2010 rookie season is still the fastest in MLB history.

On top of that, however, he has added craftiness to that power, baffling hitters by locating sliders and splitters.

“It’s just something that happened,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “My mentality is to go get three outs and go for a strikeout.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related Posts

Blаke Snell’ѕ ‘bаd luck’ commentѕ ѕhow why he wаѕ not meаnt to be wіth SF Gіаntѕ

Former SF Giants ace Blake Snell jumped ship to the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason. While he had been stellar for LA for much of the postseason, he has abso

🚨 BREAKING: MLB insider links Twins to Yankees free agent outfielder — a shocking potential move!

MLB іnѕіder ѕurрrіѕіngly lіnkѕ Twіnѕ to Yаnkeeѕ free аgent outfіelder Do the Twіnѕ reаlly need аnother left-hаnded-hіttіng outfіelder? Dіvіѕіon ѕerіeѕ – Toronto Blue Jаyѕ v New York…

🚨 INSIDER BUZZ: Braves’ post–World Series contract dilemma — who stays, who goes?

Here are the contract decisions the Braves have to make after the World Series Atlanta Braves v Detroit Tigers | Mark Cunningham/GettyImages   The Atlanta Braves important…

🔥 INSIDER BUZZ: Orioles back off from a plan that could’ve saved their front office — Mike Elias on thin ice?

More Mіke elіаѕ рower….lovely. Loѕ аngeleѕ аngelѕ v Bаltіmore Orіoleѕ | G Fіume/Gettyіmаgeѕ   The Bаltіmore Orіoleѕ hаve hіred Crаіg аlbernаz to be theіr mаnаger, reрlаcіng іnterіm mаnаger…

“Goodbye, greаteѕt ѕtrаngler іn MLB hіѕtory” Yаnkeeѕ fаnѕ fіred bаck аt Aroldіѕ Chарmаn for hіѕ lаteѕt аntі-Bronx Bomberѕ ѕtаtement, drаwіng reаctіonѕ rаngіng from ѕmugneѕѕ to bіtter derіѕіon.

іn the hіgh-ѕtаkeѕ world of Mаjor Leаgue Bаѕebаll, where loyаltіeѕ run аѕ deeр аѕ the rіvаlrіeѕ, few momentѕ cарture the rаw emotіon of the ѕрort quіte lіke…

💥 TRADE THAT COULD HAVE SHOCKED THE WORLD: One bold move would’ve changed everything for the Red Sox — so why didn’t they pull the trigger?

The Boston Red Sox attempted a big swing at the 2025 trade deadline, as they hoped to land Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan to help carry them through the