Paxton on pace to set Canadian record for most 10-strikeout games in season

James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) recorded his seventh start with at least 10 strikeouts this season on Sunday. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

By Neil Munro

Canadian Baseball Network

With his eight-inning, 11-strikeout performance for the Seattle Mariners on Canada Day, James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) is getting closer to setting the Canadian record for most 10-strikeout games in a season.

When Paxton fanned 11 on Sunday,  it brought his 2018 season total to seven games with 10+ strikeouts. This ties him with Chatham, Ont., native Fergie Jenkins (who accomplished this three times) and Navan, Ont,., native Eric Bedard (who did this in 2007) for second place on the season-best Canadian list.

Jenkins’ established the season-record when he whiffed 10 or more batters in nine games in 1970. Since it's just past the mid-point of the 2018 campaign, Paxton is almost sure to break Jenkins' season record with room to spare.

Here's an up-to-date list of the best Canadian single game strikeout performances:

Rank	Pitcher	Season	Team	Date	Strikeouts	Walks	Innings	Score	Opponent
1	James Paxton	2018	Seattle AL	5/2	16	1	7	L (2 - 3)	Oakland
2	Erik Bedard	2007	Baltimore AL	7/7	15	0	9	W (3 - 0)	Texas
2	The Only Nolan	1884	Wilmington UA	8/27	15	1	8	L (1 - 7)	Boston
4	Ferguson Jenkins	1970	Chicago NL	6/27	14	0	8	L (0 - 1)	Pittsburgh
4	Ferguson Jenkins	1971	Chicago NL	7/24	14	0	9	W (2 - 1)	Philadelphia
4	Ferguson Jenkins	1971	Chicago NL	9/19	14	1	9	W (6 - 3)	Philadelphia
7	Nick Pivetta	2018	Philadelphia	6/18	13	1	7.1	W (6 - 5)	St. Louis
7	Mike Kilkenny	1969	Detroit AL	9/17	13	5	9	W (5 - 0)	Cleveland
7	Ferguson Jenkins	1968	Chicago NL	7/27	13	2	9	W (2 - 1)	Los Angeles
7	Ferguson Jenkins	1980	Texas AL	7/15	13	1	8	L (1 - 2)	Chicago
11	Bill Mountjoy	1884	Cincinnati AA	6/29	12	0	9	W (16 - 0)	Washington
11	John Hiller	1977	Detroit AL	6/14	12	3	9	W (7 - 2)	Toronto
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1967	Chicago NL	5/30	12	4	9	W (12 - 5)	Atlanta
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1968	Chicago NL	4/11	12	0	9	W (10 - 3)	Cincinnati
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1968	Chicago NL	7/19	12	5	9	W (6 - 2)	Los Angeles
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1968	Chicago NL	8/13	12	3	9	W (10 - 3)	St. Louis
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1969	Chicago NL	8/4	12	1	9	W (9 - 3)	Houston
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1970	Chicago NL	6/9	12	2	8	W (7 - 3)	San Diego
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1970	Chicago NL	9/23(1)	12	2	8	L (1 - 2)	St. Louis
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1971	Chicago NL	5/5	12	2	9	W (5 - 4)	New York
11	Ferguson Jenkins	1971	Chicago NL	5/10	12	0	9	W (3 - 0)	Philadelphia
11	Kirk McKaskill	1986	California AL	4/22	12	5	9	W (5 - 1)	Oakland
11	Kirk McKaskill	1986	California AL	7/23	12	4	10	W (3 - 2)	Milwaukee
11	Erik Bedard	2005	Baltimore AL	5/4	12	2	8	W (5 - 1)	Toronto
11	Erik Bedard	2006	Baltimore AL	6/21	12	0	8	W (4 - 0)	Florida NL
11	Erik Bedard	2007	Baltimore AL	5/20	12	3	7	L (3 - 4)	Washington NL
11	Ryan Dempster	2008	Chicago NL	5/15	12	1	8.1	W (4 - 0)	San Diego NL

Here's a list of Canadians who have had 10 or more strikeout games in the majors and how many times they accomplished that feat:

Russ Ford (5 times)                  

Erik Bedard (16 times)          

Reggie Cleveland (1 time)       

Rheal Cormier (2 times)

Ryan Dempster (16 times)       

Rich Harden (12 times)          

John Hiller (2 times)                 

Ferguson Jenkins (48 times)

Mike Kilkenny (3 times)          

Kirk McCaskill (6 times)        

Steve Wilson (2 times)             

Oscar Judd (1 time)

Joe Krakauskas (1 time)           

Bob Steele (2 times)               

Jeff Francis (1 time)                 

Bill Mountjoy (2 times)

Bob Emslie (4 times)  

Scott Richmond (2 times)      

The Only Nolan (3 times)        

James Paxton (10 times)           

Nick Pivetta (5 times)