Matthew C. (Max) Surkont, a former Boston...

Matthew C. (Max) Surkont, a former Boston Braves pitcher who once held the major league record for consecutive strikeouts, died Wednesday at age 64 in Largo, Fla.

In 1953, Surkont had eight straight strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds, a record since surpassed by Tom Seaver.

Surkont’s 21-year baseball career included stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Giants, but his best year was 1953, when he was 11-5 with the Milwaukee Braves. He had a career record of 61-76.