Gonzalez Sets Rangers Record for Scoreless Innings to Start Career

Texas Rangers pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez tossed a shutout in Friday's 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals and set a franchise record by starting his career with 14.2 consecutive scoreless innings, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).

Despite striking out just two batters, Gonzalez held the Royals to three hits and two walks over nine innings, needing 116 pitches to go the distance in his second major league start.

He previously tossed 5.2 scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox in his MLB debut last Saturday, striking out two batters while allowing two hits and five walks.

Now 2-0 through his first two big league appearances, the 23-year-old Gonzalez has found success by keeping the ball on the ground, owning a 57.1 percent ground-ball rate, per FanGraphs.

The steady stream of grounders has made up for a lack of strikeouts, with Gonzalez fanning just four batters through his first 14.2 innings.

Despite the lack of punchouts, he's the first Rangers pitcher since Len Barker in 1976 to toss a shutout within his first two major league games, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Gonzalez will look to continue the early success in his next outing, scheduled for Thursday against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum.