Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Cristopher Sánchez delivered a historic performance in his most recent outing, doing something no other Phillies left-hander has accomplished in nearly a decade.
As reported by MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Sánchez racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts in a dominant showing against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. That mark ties the second-most strikeouts by a Phillies lefty since Cole Hamels fanned 13 batters in his no-hitter against the Cubs back on July 25, 2015. It was also the fourth time in Sánchez’s career he’s recorded double-digit strikeouts in a game.
Early Cy Young Buzz for the Phillies Southpaw
The 28-year-old is building a strong early case for the National League Cy Young Award. He’s struck out at least seven hitters in three of his four starts this season, compiling a 2-0 record and an impressive 2.96 ERA in 2025. Drawing comparisons to Hamels—a four-time All-Star and 2008 World Series MVP—underscores just how good Sánchez has been.
Sánchez needed just seven innings to notch his 12 strikeouts, while Hamels achieved his 13 in a full nine-inning effort. Both performances were remarkable in their own way. With increased velocity and elite command, Sánchez is quickly establishing himself as a force on the mound—and one of the early standout arms in the National League this season.
