DETROIT -- Tigers right-hander Doug Fister has struck out an American League-record nine batters in a row in Thursday's game against Kansas City.
Fister struck out the last Royals hitter of the fourth inning, and his streak didn't end until Salvador Perez hit a routine grounder to the shortstop on a 1-2 pitch in the seventh -- bringing out an audible groan from the Detroit crowd, which had become more excited as Fister's run continued.
The major league record for consecutive strikeouts is 10 by Tom Seaver in 1970.
The AL record of eight had been accomplished several times, most recently by Kansas City's Blake Stein on June 17, 2001.
