ATLANTA — A former Yankees closer surpassed the record of a former Mets closer on Saturday.
Pittsburgh Pirates veteran Aroldis Chapman made major league history by passing Billy Wagner for the most career strikeouts by a left-handed relief pitcher.
The 36-year-old Chapman struck out Travis d’Arnaud and pinch-hitter Sean Murphy in the ninth inning of the Pirates’ 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Game 10.
Chapman struck out d’Arnaud to tie Wagner’s record of 1,196 strikeouts, then struck out Murphy to set a new record, glaring at Murphy as he walked off the plate.
“Obviously, I came out knowing I was two strikeouts away from tying the record or taking the lead,” Chapman said through a translator. “Yeah, that’s what we were trying to do today.”
Chapman said the record was the result of “many years of hard work.”
Chapman walked Austin Riley with one out, then recovered with consecutive strikeouts to keep the score tied at 1-1.
The Braves won in the 10th inning against Kyle Nicholas.
Coming into the game, Chapman was tied for sixth among National League relief pitchers with 47 strikeouts this season.
His two saves this season bring his career total to 323, one shy of Huston Street for 20th all-time since saves became an official statistic in 1969.
Wagner finished his career in 2010 with Atlanta, saving 37 games.
He made his major league debut with Houston in 1995 and ranks eighth all-time with 422 career saves.
Mariano Rivera was first with 652 points.
