Now that's efficient: Three strikeouts on nine pitches.
The Indians' Justin Masterson pulled off the feat Monday night against the Red Sox. He fanned Jonny Gomes, Grady Sizemore and Stephen Drew in the fourth inning using the minimum number of pitches.
Masterson's inning signaled a 180-degree turn from his early wildness. He needed 61 pitches to get the first nine outs. During one stretch from the third to the sixth, however, Masterson threw 25 consecutive strikes.
"I feel like I've probably thrown 25 balls in a row in one game," Masterson said with a laugh. "It felt like we were pounding the zone."
Masterson lasted seven innings despite the rocky beginning. The Indians won, 3-2.
"In the first three innings he usually runs into some tough spots," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He kind of flipped it tonight. Boy, did he ever. You looked up in the third inning and thought, OK, we got the lead, but we're going to be in the bullpen early. He got us pretty deep."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
