On July 3, 1968 — Luis Tiant strikes out nineteen Twins and scatters six hits in a ten-inning 1-0 complete-game victory against Minnesota at Cleveland Stadium. ‘El Tiante’, who equals Sandy Koufax’s record for 41 strikeouts for three consecutive games, becomes the second hurler to whiff more than 18 batters in an American League contest, behind only Tom Cheney of the Senators, who recorded more when he punched out 21 Baltimore batters in a 16-inning game in 1962. Tiant also sets two modern major league records – most strikeouts in a 10-inning game; and 32 strikeouts in consecutive games -He will top the American League in ERA with 1.60.
