Phillies Pitcher Cristopher Sanchez Joins Exclusive MLB History
The Philadelphia Philies gave Cristopher Sanchez a massive new contract this past offseason, and so far, he is earning every single penny of it.
Sanchez's improbable scoreless inning streak ended at 50.2 during Wednesday's win over the San Diego Padres.
Jackson Merrill ended the streak with an RBI single in the seventh inning, but Sanchez improved his record to 7-2 on the season with a 1.46 ERA. It was Sanchez's first run allowed since April 30 as his National League Cy Young campaign continues.
Sanchez is now one of just three pitchers with a scoreless streak of at least 50 innings during the Live-Ball era.
The only 3 players in the Live-Ball Era with a scoreless streak of at least 50 innings:
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) June 4, 2026
1988 Orel Hershiser - 59.0 IP
1968 Don Drysdale - 58.0 IP
2026 Cristopher Sanchez - 50.2 IP
One of the greatest runs we will ever see pic.twitter.com/9dsNp2PCMs
MLB legend Orel Hershiser, who has the longest streak in history, admitted he was rooting for Sanchez to break the record.
"I was rooting for him. I don't think my friends and family were though. It was a special time in my life. It changed my life. If it changes somebody else's life that'd be just fine," Hershiser said, via MLB analyst Ben Verlander.
After the streak came to an end, the fans at Citizens Bank Park couldn't help but give Sanchez a standing ovation.
The Phillies pitcher even cracked a smile before moving on to the next batter.
What an ovation from the @Phillies faithful after Cristopher Sánchez's unbelievable 50.2 scoreless innings streak comes to an end https://t.co/0ygZ2b88NCpic.twitter.com/ZPlSGssL3x
— MLB (@MLB) June 4, 2026
Sanchez allowed just one run on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts as the Phillies got the 3-2 win at home.
Sanchez's streak is also the fifth-longest in MLB history, and he was just 2.1 innings away from making it to No. 4 on the list, although it does mark the longest streak ever for a left-hander.
What. a. run.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 4, 2026
Cristopher Sánchez, take a bow pic.twitter.com/Nf9FwmF7aG
Phillies' Extension For Sanchez Looking Like a Steal
Sanchez turns 30 years old in December, but the left-hander is throwing incredibly well.
While Sanchez is earning just $3.5 million this season, the Phillies gave him a six-year deal worth $103 million this past offseason, and so far, he is pitching well beyond that contract.
Right now, Sanchez is right in the middle of the NL Cy Young race, although Shohei Ohtani, Paul Skenes and even Mason Miller have cases to be made for the award.
Related: Cristopher Sanchez Pulls Off Phillies feat Unseen Since 1911
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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 6:17 AM.