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DeGrom sets MLB record with 0.62 ERA through 1st 9 starts

Denis Poroy / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The legend of Jacob deGrom continued to grow Saturday in San Diego.

The New York Mets ace flummoxed the Padres for seven brilliant innings at Petco Park, striking out 11 and allowing only three hits on 85 pitches. DeGrom's shutout outing lowered his ERA to a sparkling 0.62, a new record for the lowest ERA through a pitcher's first nine starts of a season, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. His 0.57 WHIP is also the lowest over the first nine starts of a campaign since 1901.

"Honestly, I try not to think about it (the miniscule ERA)," deGrom said. "I try and go out there and put us in a position to win."

DeGrom is now just the second pitcher since 1901 to have at least 90 strikeouts while allowing 25 hits or fewer in a nine-game span, according to Langs. Johan Santana also accomplished the feat with the Minnesota Twins in 2004.

DeGrom has allowed one earned run or fewer in each of his nine starts this year. The Colorado Rockies are the only team to score more than once against deGrom, but all three runs charged to him in that game were unearned.

The 32-year-old's incredible start to 2021 is already drawing comparisons to some of the greatest pitching seasons in MLB history.

"It's impressive, I have never seen anything like it," Mets manager Luis Rojas said of deGrom's run this season. "You know you are watching something special."

The two-time Cy Young winner now leads the majors in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts per nine innings (14.43), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (11.63). Opponents are hitting a meager .128 against deGrom, who's allowed just three home runs.

Mets reliever Seth Lugo replaced deGrom with his team ahead 3-0. New York won 4-0.

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