Aroldis Chapman sets strikeout record in Red Sox victory over Angels

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Aroldis Chapman became the major leagues' career leader in strikeouts as a reliever Friday night, toppling a record that had stood for more than half a century. The Boston Red Sox's 38-year-old left-hander didn't do it with one of the triple-digit fastballs that have made him one of the most imposing pitchers of his generation and one of the most accomplished relievers in baseball history. Instead, his high pitch to the Angels' Denzer Guzman was clocked at a mere 98.6 mph — and Guzman still couldn't get around in time.

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Aroldis Chapman set the major league record for relief strikeouts after rookie Jake Bennett yielded five hits while pitching into the eighth inning for the Boston Red Sox in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. The 38-year-old Chapman broke Hoyt Wilhelm's record with his 1,364th career strikeout as a reliever when he fanned Denzer Guzman leading off the ninth. The knuckleballing Wilhelm last pitched in 1972.

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With his strikeout of Angels third baseman Denzer Guzman to lead off the ninth inning Friday night, Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman made major league history.