in the BOX

Jeff Pearlman

August 23, 1999

Aug. 15, 1999 Angels 10, Tigers 2Sure, the Tigers, who through Sunday had struck out 776 times (second in the American League to the Blue Jays), are wild swingers, but that didn't diminish the feat of Angels lefthander Chuck Finley, who became the first pitcher to strike out four batters in an inning twice. (He also did it against the Yankees on May 12.) After Detroit centerfielder Kimera Bartee singled in the bottom of the first, Finley whiffed Deivi Cruz, Juan Encarnacion and Dean Palmer, but Palmer took first when the third strike, a wild pitch, got past catcher Ben Molina. Tony Clark went down swinging to end the inning.