Fewest strikes in a complete game

[Gubanich Plague]

Today, Julian Tavarez threw a 99-pitch complete game for the Red Sox against the Blue Jays. Now that's a pretty low total pitch-count, but certainly nothing historical.

But that got me thinking. I would imagine that most low pitch-count complete games are due in large part to the starter throwing lots of strikes, perhaps significantly greater than 2/3 of total pitches. But Tavarez got the job done with only 60 strikes out of 99 total pitches.

So, does anybody know what might be the fewest number of strikes by a starter in a complete game? If I had to guess, I would say it can't be much less than about 50.

Anybody know, or have any way to find out?

[candy curveball cummings]

Today, Julian Tavarez threw a 99-pitch complete game for the Red Sox against the Blue Jays. Now that's a pretty low total pitch-count, but certainly nothing historical.

But that got me thinking. I would imagine that most low pitch-count complete games are due in large part to the starter throwing lots of strikes, perhaps significantly greater than 2/3 of total pitches. But Tavarez got the job done with only 60 strikes out of 99 total pitches.

So, does anybody know what might be the fewest number of strikes by a starter in a complete game? If I had to guess, I would say it can't be much less than about 50.

Anybody know, or have any way to find out?

You know, I don't know for certain, but I assume the record belongs to Red Barrett. He only threw 58 pitches in that game.

[Gubanich Plague]

Yeah, you're right. 58 pitches on 8/10/44, that's just ridiculous.

Perhaps I should have restricted the question to the post-mound-lowering years.

Other notable games this season, off the top of my head: Chris Capuano 97-66 against the Cubs on 7/6, Anibal Sanchez's no-hitter 103-67. And the 1:51 affair in Seattle on 8/28: Escobar 106-71, and Hernandez 95-70.

[Gubanich Plague]

Here's an article (http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20050520&content_id=1056739&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=min) about this type of feat.

5/20/05 - Carlos SIlva, 74 pitches, 54 strikes
7/22/97 - Greg Maddux, 78 pitches
8/29/90 - Bob Tewsbury, 76 pitches
7/5/98 - Andy Ashby, 75 pitches

No word on the number of strikes for the other games.