20 strikeouts! Zack Greinke, Angels tie MLB records vs. Mariners

By Zachary Ward, USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Angels made history Tuesday night and kept their playoff hopes alive in the process.

Zack Greinke started things by whiffing 13 batters in five innings, tying the live-ball era record for strikeouts thrown in five innings or less. The Angels bullpen followed by accounting for seven more strikeouts, three for Garrett Richards and two each for Kevin Jepsen and Ernesto Frieri, to close the 5-4 win.

Twenty strikeouts is quite an accomplishment, even if they aren't all by one pitcher. No team ever has surpassed 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, and that mark has been reached only four times, including the Angels combined effort Tuesday, according to ESPN Stats and Information. The other three were solo acts, accomplished by Roger Clemens with the Boston Red Sox in 1986 and 1996 and by Kerry Wood with the Chicago Cubs in 1998.

For the Mariners' part, leadoff hitter Dustin Ackley was the main culprit with four whiffs. But this type of effort requires teamwork, and all but one Mariner who swung a bat Tuesday struck out. Pinch-hitter Casper Wells managed an infield pop-out in his lone at-bat.

What does this mean for the Angels moving forward?

Well, they got a crucial win against the Mariners to remain two games behind the Oakland Athletics, who also won in extra innings Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, in the race for the American League's second wild card. Greinke pitching well is a good sign for a team desperate for its results to match its talent.

Contributing: MLB.com and @ESPNStatsInfo