Angels Pitcher José Soriano Makes MLB History with 0.24 ERA

Sometimes a baseball player catches lightning in a bottle, but José Soriano has captured an entire thunderstorm.

The Los Angeles Angels pitcher made history Wednesday afternoon, extending the most dominant start to a season in over 100 years. Through six starts, Soriano has posted a microscopic 0.24 ERA, the lowest mark since earned runs became official in both leagues back in 1913.

Even on a day when he didn't have his best stuff, Soriano found a way to shine. He allowed a season-high seven hits against the Blue Jays but still threw five scoreless innings, helping the Angels snap a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory.

The numbers tell a remarkable story. Soriano has allowed just one run all season, a solo home run on April 6. That makes him the first pitcher in MLB history (excluding openers) to give up only one run through his first six starts.

Nobody expected this breakthrough from the 25-year-old. Soriano entered the season with a career 17-21 record and a 3.89 ERA. While solid, nothing suggested he'd become baseball's most untouchable pitcher.

Why This Inspires

The secret behind Soriano's transformation is simple: his pitches are moving like never before. His sinker now drops 27.1 inches on average, nearly two more inches than last season. That tiny difference has turned hard-hit balls into harmless grounders.

Batters are hitting just .056 against his sinker this year, down from .290 last season. His hard-hit rate has plummeted from 48.2 percent to 30.9 percent, well below the league average of 37 percent.

"He's got wiffle ball stuff," said teammate Nolan Schanuel after the game. "I feel bad for hitters who have to go face him three or four times in a game. I've never seen a baseball move that much."

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki sees the dedication behind the dominance. "Just watching him go to work every single day, not just the days he starts, but the days that he gets his work in. The guy is a physical specimen."

Soriano now mixes five pitches, including a 98 mph four-seamer he's throwing more often. Against Toronto, he registered 16 swinging strikes and induced seven ground-ball outs, including a double play.

After allowing seven hits Wednesday, Soriano stayed humble. "You're gonna have a day like that. The only thing I can do is keep grinding out there."

From solid pitcher to history maker, José Soriano proves that with hard work and small adjustments, extraordinary things are possible.