Overview
- Aroldis Chapman fanned Denzer Guzman for career strikeout No. 1,364 Friday night in Anaheim to pass Hoyt Wilhelm’s long-standing mark and then recorded the final out for his 17th save in a 5-2 Red Sox win.
- Boston rookie starter Jake Bennett carried a shutout into the eighth inning in his seventh career start, striking out six with no walks before a two-run eighth that chased him when Jose Siri homered and Zach Neto delivered an RBI single.
- Chapman tied Wilhelm’s total a few days earlier at Fenway Park and has steadily climbed other career lists, moving past Joe Nathan on the saves list in May and reaching 384 career saves with Friday’s finish.
- The record highlights Chapman’s rare career span for a modern closer: he debuted in 2010, has been an eight-time All-Star, won World Series rings with the 2016 Cubs and 2023 Rangers, and remains effective with a low ERA this season.
- Beyond the game, the milestone reframes how evaluators view high-velocity relievers by pairing huge strikeout totals with longevity, which could shape Hall of Fame debates for pitchers of Chapman’s era.