Most hits (or baserunners) with no runs scored
Posted by Andy on November 24, 2007
A reader asked to find the most hits a team had in a game without scoring a single run.
Cnt Date Tm Opp GmReslt PA AB R **H** 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP SB CS LOB Batrs
+----+-------------+---+----+-------+---+---+--+------+--+--+--+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+-----+
1 2005-08-31 MIN @KCR L 0-1 37 33 0 13 2 0 0 0 2 0 5 1 1 0 0 3 0 1 10 12
2 2005-08-13 COL WSN L 0-8 42 36 0 13 1 0 0 0 5 0 7 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 15 15
3 1993-07-18 PIT @ATL L 0-2 37 37 0 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 10 12
4 1991-08-08 TOR DET L 0-4 57 54 0 13 1 0 0 0 2 0 10 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 15 13
5 1991-06-07 SDP @PIT L 0-1 37 34 0 13 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 10 15
6 1989-08-23 MON LAD L 0-1 79 70 0 13 1 0 0 0 6 3 18 0 3 0 0 3 0 1 13 20
7 1989-08-15 TEX @SEA L 0-2 41 39 0 13 1 0 0 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 14 13
8 1976-08-27 CAL NYY L 0-5 60 54 0 13 3 0 0 0 4 1 9 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 15 12
9 1973-09-09 MON NYM L 0-3 40 39 0 13 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 13 16
10 1968-07-25 PIT CIN L 0-2 40 37 0 13 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 13 12
11 1964-07-15 WSA @MIN L 0-6 39 38 0 13 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 12 13
12 1961-05-14(1) BAL @CLE L 0-1 56 55 0 13 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 11 15
So, there you go, since 1957 the answer is 13 hits with no runs scored. It's been done 12 times, which have been spread out fairly evenly over the last 50 years. Right away, you notice that it wasn't double plays or caught stealings, for the most part, that preventing scoring. It was good ol' fashioned Left on Base. In the next-to-last column, you see that every one of these teams had double-digit LOB.
Now the most times on base in a game with no runs scored:
Cnt Date Tm Opp GmReslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB **TOB** IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP SB CS LOB Batrs
+----+-------------+---+----+-------+---+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+-------+---+--+---+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+-----+
1 2001-05-29 SFG ARI L 0-1 69 57 0 9 4 0 0 0 10 20 5 9 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 15 19
2 1991-05-17 CHC @PHI L 0-1 65 56 0 10 1 0 0 0 9 19 2 11 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 17 19
3 1989-08-23 MON LAD L 0-1 79 70 0 13 1 0 0 0 6 19 3 18 0 3 0 0 3 0 1 13 20
4 2005-08-13 COL WSN L 0-8 42 36 0 13 1 0 0 0 5 19 0 7 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 15 15
5 2001-09-02 ARI @SDP L 0-1 58 45 0 7 3 0 0 0 10 19 4 10 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 19 22
6 1976-08-27 CAL NYY L 0-5 60 54 0 13 3 0 0 0 4 18 1 9 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 15 12
7 1976-07-06 NYM @HOU L 0-1 45 34 0 8 2 0 0 0 10 18 0 7 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 15 13
8 1972-05-07 LAD @MON L 0-1 52 43 0 10 0 0 0 0 7 18 0 3 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 13 14
9 1966-09-15 CLE KCA L 0-1 49 41 0 10 2 0 0 0 8 18 0 7 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 16 17
10 1964-09-30 CIN PIT L 0-1 66 56 0 9 0 0 0 0 9 18 4 17 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 18 17
The record is 20, and that's a weird game. Firstly, it was an 18 inning game, so 20 baserunners is not so unusual. The Giants were given 18 intentional walks, 2 to Jeff Kent and 3 to Big Head. They had 20 baserunners, scored none, but had just 15 left on base. One of those 5 baserunners can be accounted for by a GIDP by Big Head. And Marvin Bernard got credited with a pick off, but hey stayed on base due to an error. The real answer is other double plays that were not GIDPs. In the 6th inning, Big Head lined into a double play. In the 8th, Armando Rios and Rich Aurilia were in a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play. In the 14th, Ramon Martinez lined into a double play.
November 24th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I was the reader who asked for this. Thanks!
November 24th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I read somewhere that the all-time record is 16 hits without a run.
November 24th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
FOUND THIS @ BASEBALL LIBRARY :
: What is the most hits a team has gotten without scoring a run?
-- Aaron Carson
A: The record for most hits in a nine-inning game without scoring a run is 14, and is held by two teams.
On September 14, 1913, the New York Giants got 14 hits - ten singles and four doubles - against the Chicago Cubs, but couldn’t score a run. Their inability to score was due mainly to bad base running and bad clutch hitting; three Giants were caught stealing, one, George Burns, was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, and the Giants as a team left 11 runners on base. Cubs’ starter Larry Cheney picked up the complete game victory.
Then, on July 10, 1928, the Washington Nationals gave up 14 hits to the Cleveland Indians, but didn’t allow them a run. This time, it was Nationals pitcher Milt Gaston who escaped with the tough complete game shutout. The Indians threatened in each inning, including leaving five runners on third base, and having the leadoff man reach safely in six of the nine innings. Gatson was aided by two double-play balls, and some fine fielding by his defense, including Bobby Reeves, Sammy West, and Dick Spalding.
Back to top -- Christos Plakas
THE 16 I HAD IN MY HEAD MUST HAVE BEEN IN AN EXTRA INNING GAME
November 24th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
The game where the Giants lost to DBacks in 18 IPs, 1-0 (May 29, 2001) they hda 21 runners on base since Marvin Benard was hit by Armando Reynoso, Arizona´s starter.
November 25th, 2007 at 12:29 am
"Big Head" its like we are in second grade and someone got away with something and now we're gonna call him names....
i know this isnt the place for this debate and all but when will people stop blaming the "cheaters" who were not breaking any rules and start blaming the owners/league who continually allowed these things to happen! MLB is to blame!
and i am not a bonds fan... i frankly dont even like home runs all that much... my favorite player is Kenny Lofton....
November 25th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Well, I agree with you that Bonds should not be singled out as a steroids user, and I predict that after George Mitchell's report is made public, the focus on Bonds will somewhat fade as many other names come to light. However, when it comes to criticizing Bonds, let's not forget that he was just indicted for perjury over his steroids use as well as obstruction of justice. Say what you want about Jason Giambi, but when he testified before the grand jury, he answered honestly that he used steroids. That doesn't make his actions right, but it makes him a more decent and honest person than Bonds.
I completely agree that the steroids and HGH issues are baseball's fault.
I think that the issue of Bonds HOF candidacy is going to be very interesting. Clearly, on numbers alone, he should get in with a unanimous vote. I think most of us would agree that if he had never used steroids and perhaps had lesser numbers, he'd still be a shoo-in. It's not clear to me that he deserves to be judged for steroids use until we understand just how many other players are/were users. The place where Bonds clearly falls short is in the character department. Even way back in 1988-1989, he was a surly, unlikable guy who annoyed his teammates.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
I noticed some other things that I thought were interesting within the 12 games shown in the original list:
1) Only one game was a complete game shutout with one pitcher allowing all 13 hits -- Game #11 with Mudcat Grant going the distance for the Twins vs. the Senators.
2) In game #8 on the list, which was a 15-inning affair between the Angels and the Yankees, both starting pitchers last for 13 innings! Frank Tanana for the Angels and Catfish Hunter for the Yankees. That was on 08-27-1976. I wonder if two opposing SP have ever gone that long in one game since then?!
3) In game #7 on the list, while the Texas offense was unable to score while amassing 13 hits, Charlie Hough pitched all 8 innings for them, allowing ONLY ONE HIT and picking up the 2-0 loss. He did walk 5 (2 intentional) and added a WP and BK, so it's not like it was a 1-hit gem, but it interesting that he lost with a 1-hitter in that game.