After a Record-Breaking 29 Victories in Row, Streak Ends for Salt Lake City

The longest winning streak in professional baseball history ended at 29 Monday night as Billings scored six runs in the first inning and held on to defeat Salt Lake City, 7-5, in a Pioneer League game.

The Trappers got off to a quick start with two runs in the top of the first but saw their lead evaporate with the Mustangs’ rally in their half of the inning. A three-run homer by Eddie Taubensee capped Billings’ six-run inning

Salt Lake closed the gap to 7-5 in the sixth with a solo home run by Mike Malinak, but Billings pitchers got out of jams in the seventh and eighth to preserve the victory.

Reliever Quinn Marsh earned the save, getting the final out with the bases loaded in the eighth and escaping the ninth with the help of a double play.

It was the first defeat for the Trappers since a 6-5 loss to Pocatello on June 24. Salt Lake City’s streak of 29 wins broke the record of 27, held by the 1902 Corsicana Oilers of the Texas League and the 1921 Baltimore Orioles of the International League. The 1916 New York Giants hold the major league record of 26 straight wins.

Salt Lake City broke the record for consecutive victories Saturday night by defeating Pocatello, 13-3, and extended the streak to 29 games with an 8-6 victory over the same team Sunday night.

The Trappers are made up mostly of college players undrafted or unwanted by major league teams who joined the team as a last chance to make it in professional baseball. The Trappers started the season 3-3 before compiling their record winning streak.

Salt Lake City (32-4) holds a 16-game lead over second-place Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League Southern Division. Billings (24-10) is in first place in the Northern Division.