Paxton sets Canadian record for most strikeouts in a game

Seattle Mariners left-hander James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) struck out 16 Oakland A's in seven innings on Wednesday to set a new record for most strikeouts by a Canadian pitcher in a major league game. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

By Neil Munro

Canadian Baseball Network

Seattle Mariners southpaw James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) struck out 16 Oakland A's batters in seven innings on Wednesday to set a new record for most strikeouts by a Canadian pitcher in a major league game.

Paxton, who despite his dominance picked up a no-decision in the M's 3-2 victory, broke the Canuck record of 15 strikeouts in a game shared by Navan, Ont., native Erik Bedard (July 7, 2007) and The Only Nolan (Union Association, August 27, 1884).

The following chart lists the top single-game strikeout performances by Canadian pitchers in the major leagues:

All-Time Top Single Game Strikeout Performances by Canadians

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	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
10	Bill Mountjoy	1884	Cincinnati AA	6/29	12	0	9	W (16 - 0)	Washington
10	John Hiller	1977	Detroit AL	6/14	12	3	9	W (7 - 2)	Toronto
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1967	Chicago NL	5/30	12	4	9	W (12 - 5)	Atlanta
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1968	Chicago NL	4/11	12	0	9	W (10 - 3)	Cincinnati
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1968	Chicago NL	7/19	12	5	9	W (6 - 2)	Los Angeles
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1968	Chicago NL	8/13	12	3	9	W (10 - 3)	St. Louis
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1969	Chicago NL	8/4	12	1	9	W (9 - 3)	Houston
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1970	Chicago NL	6/9	12	2	8	W (7 - 3)	San Diego
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1970	Chicago NL	9/23(1)	12	2	8	L (1 - 2)	St. Louis
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1971	Chicago NL	5/5	12	2	9	W (5 - 4)	New York
10	Ferguson Jenkins	1971	Chicago NL	5/10	12	0	9	W (3 - 0)	Philadelphia
10	Kirk McKaskill	1986	California AL	4/22	12	5	9	W (5 - 1)	Oakland
10	Kirk McKaskill	1986	California AL	7/23	12	4	10	W (3 - 2)	Milwaukee
10	Erik Bedard	2005	Baltimore AL	5/4	12	2	8	W (5 - 1)	Toronto
10	Erik Bedard	2006	Baltimore AL	6/21	12	0	8	W (4 - 0)	Florida NL
10	Erik Bedard	2007	Baltimore AL	5/20	12	3	7	L (3 - 4)	Washington NL
10	Ryan Dempster	2008	Chicago NL	5/15	12	1	8.1	W (4 - 0)	San Diego NL
27	33 times				11

Canadian pitchers with 10 or more strikeouts in one major league game (21 pitchers did it 137 times through the May 3, 2018):

Jeff Francis (1 time)

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)               

Russ Ford (5 times)                  

Bill Mountjoy (2 times)

Bob Emslie (4 times)                

Scott Richmond (2 times)      

The Only Nolan (3 times)        

James Paxton (6 times)           

Nick Pivetta (2 times)

Most 10 or more strikeout major league games by a Canadian pitcher in one season:   

9, Ferguson Jenkins 1970

7, Ferguson Jenkins in 1969, 1971 and 1974 and Eric Bedard in 2007