Atlanta Braves pitcher Huascar Ynoa pulls off feat not seen since 2000

The Atlanta Braves have gotten an incredibly rare output on the mound and at the plate from pitcher Huascar Ynoa over his last two starts.

A pitcher who gives up zero earned runs in a game had a good day. A batter who hits a grand slam had a great day. Huascar Ynoa did both.

The Braves pitcher is having an unbelievable stretch, on that’s only been replicated a couple of times in MLB history.

With a grand slam against the Nationals on Tuesday night, Ynoa became the first pitcher since 2000 to give up no earned runs and hit a home run in two consecutive starts.

Rick Ankiel managed that feat in 2000 with the Cardinals. The only other pitcher to do the same was Don Larsen in 1958 with the Yankees.

Ynoa now has the chance to chase history. If he completes his next start without giving up a run and hitting a home run, he’ll own the record on his own.

Huascar Ynoa is batting almost as well as he’s pitching

It certainly won’t be easy to pull off. The record for most consecutive games as a pitcher with a home run belongs to Ken Brett, who managed to hit four in 1973 with the Phillies.

Just getting to a third game with another hit out of the park would be highly unlikely for Ynoa. Doing it while also blanking the opposing team would be something else.

As a pitcher, Ynoa is feeling it in 2021. He’s 3-1 with an ERA of 2.36. He’s had 38 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched.

As for the batting bit, he’s hit two home runs and driven in six runs in 13 plate appearances for a stat line of .385/.385/.923.

The 23-year-old is making a name for himself in a way no one could have expected going into the 2021 season.