Sunday night’s 16-inning marathon won by the Red Sox was the 39th 1-0 game of 2011. If that sounds like a lot, it is. We’re currently on pace for the most 1-0 games since 1976.
With scoring depressed, the number of 1-0 games shot way up last year and has only continued to increase. Here’s the number of 1-0 games each season since 1990:
1990 - 43
1991 - 55
1992 - 58
1993 - 36
1994 - 26
1995 - 29
1996 - 26
1997 - 29
1998 - 32
1999 - 27
2000 - 29
2001 - 36
2002 - 42
2003 - 31
2004 - 35
2005 - 40
2006 - 39
2007 - 34
2008 - 38
2009 - 36
2010 - 62
2011 - 39
At the current pace, we’d end this season with 66 1-0 games, the high total since there were 72 in 1976.
The Twins have been on the winning side of five of the 1-0 games this year, while the Indians and Dodgers have won three apiece.
On the other hand, the Padres have lost five 1-0 games, including one to the Twins back on June 18. The Marlins and Nationals have both lost three 1-0 games.
