Jose Alvarado allowed a solo home run to Jorge Soler on Wednesday.
That was a rare mistake for the highly-successful Philadelphia Phillies left-handed relief pitcher.
Alvarado entered the game against the Miami Marlins having given up just one hit over four innings this season. He had struck out 11 of the 13 batters he had faced, including 10 in a row.
Alvarado bounced back in a big way after allowing a three-run home run to Yordan Alvarez in Game 6 of the World Series against the Houston Astros.
Even with the homer allowed to Soler, Alvarado has been nearly unhittable this season.
You could argue that he’s the best reliever in all of Major League Baseball.
"That's the game. That's baseball," Alvarado told reporters. "I'm coming into the game to compete, to give my help to my teammates. And you know, sometimes I give my teammates a good result, and sometimes the hitter's lucky."
Alvarado struck out Garrett Hampson to extend his streak to 11 consecutive strikeouts. Alvarado is the only relief pitcher in MLB’s expansion era -- since 1961 -- to strike out 11 consecutive batters in a single season.
He’s not concerned with records. He wants to win. He craves a World Series title.
“I don't think about that,” Alvarado said of records. “Today is over. Be ready for tomorrow and compete and win the game.”
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