Atlanta's Charlie Morton threw two of the most ridiculous strikeouts in World Series history
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The Braves and Astros are playing in the 117th World Series and I’m sure there have been some incredible strikeouts in the first 116 Fall Classics but I have to believe none of those top what Atlanta pitcher Charlie Morton did last night in Houston.
In case you missed it, Morton took a 102 mph one-hopper by Houston’s Yuli Gurriel off his right shin in the second inning. He was able to shake it off and strike out the next hitter, Chas McCormick, and then completed a 1-2-3 inning by getting Martín Maldonado to line out to first.
Morton hobbled a bit to the dugout and went through a few quick tests before coming out for the third inning. He then struck out Jose Altuve on six pitches, including a fastball that hit 95.9 mph on the radar gun before finishing him off with a nasty curveball.
Charlie Morton, Filthy 80mph Curveball.
[And he's hurt. ] pic.twitter.com/GXMb55OeEj
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 27, 2021
The pain was too much after that last pitch to Altuve and Morton exited the game after a brief meeting on the mound with the team’s trainer.
Shortly thereafter we learned Morton fractured his right fibula and his World Series was over.
Let that sink in for a second – he struck out not one, but TWO batters with a broken right leg and he did it while throwing 95-mph heat and striking out Altuve, who is one of the best hitters in baseball.
On a broken leg!
Charlie Morton threw 10 pitches on a broken leg, sat down for a half-inning, threw six more pitches, the last two of which were a 96-mph fastball and 80-mph curveball to strike out Jose Altuve.
So, yeah, Charlie Morton threw 16 pitches pushing off the mound with a broken leg.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 27, 2021
That is absolutely insane.
The Braves went on to win last night, 6-2, to take a 1-0 series lead on the road.
The loss of Morton is a big one. He went 14-6 this year, his first with the Braves, and has some of the nastiest stuff in the league.
But last night we learned he’s also one of the toughest pitchers in the league, too, because what he was able to do after taking that line drive off his leg was the stuff of legend.
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(Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP)
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