Corey Kluber was denied the chance to enter the MLB record books in a 2-0 win for the Cleveland Indians over the St Louis Cardinals.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner struck out 18 batters but was pulled from the game after eight innings with the record of 20 in sight - Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs was the last man to strike out 20 back in 2001.
Kluber, who entered the game without a win this season, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning but saw that bid broken up by a Jhonny Peralta single to center field.
He had thrown 113 pitches by the time he completed the eighth, but with Indians manager Terry Francona having been ejected earlier in the game, the rest of his staff decided to bring in closer Cody Allen rather than let Kluber finish the game.
His 18 strikeouts were the most in the major leagues since 2004, when Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets struck out 18 Atlanta Braves batters, and equalled a franchise record set by the legendary Bob Feller in 1938.
Apart from Peralta's single, Kluber allowed only one more baserunner when he hit Matt Holliday with a pitch in the first inning. Holliday was forced to leave the game in the second with pain in his elbow.
Kluber was 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA in 34 starts for the Indians in 2014, and struck out 269 batters en route to winning the Cy Young Award, but the Indians had not won any of his seven previous starts this season. He signed a $38m deal over the off-season.
"I don't think the situation of the game really allows you to be," Kluber said when asked if he was upset at not being allowed to complete the game.
"It's 2-0, so at that point, when somebody gets on, the tying run is at the plate. So, I don't think I really had time to sit there and think about, 'What if?' You just have to move on and get the next guy.
"Any time that you throw your name in there with Bob Feller, that's obviously very humbling and a great accomplishment. More important is obviously getting the win."
