Andrew Kittledge had a perfect start in his first two outings with the Chicago Cubs, but his third appearance went terribly wrong. However, his fourth outing made history as he pitched the sixth Immaculate Inning in the franchise’s history. On Wednesday, Kittledge struck out Austin Hayes, Gavin Lux, and Tyler Stevenson on just nine pitches during a game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Immaculate Innings—where a pitcher strikes out all three batters on nine pitches—are one of baseball’s rarest feats, with only 120 recorded in Major League Baseball history. They are even rarer than perfect games and no-hitters, though they have become more common recently, with 13 occurring over the last four seasons. This season, Cal Quantrill of the Miami Marlins and Brandon Young of the Baltimore Orioles have also achieved Immaculate Innings.
Kittledge, who was part of the Cubs’ infield plans following Wilfri de la Cruz’s trade at the deadline, entered the record books just a day after being booed by fans at Wrigley Field after giving up four runs in an inning during a 5-1 loss to the Reds. The Cubs announcers noted his achievement as it happened, and catcher Carson Kelly admitted he didn’t realize until the ninth pitch that Kittledge had thrown an Immaculate Inning.
Kittledge, a nine-year MLB veteran, had been solid during his time with the Orioles earlier this season. Despite the team’s decision to rebuild during a losing 2025 season, Kittledge’s performance made him a valuable acquisition for the Cubs. Alongside players like Taylor Rogers, Willi Castro, and Michael Soroka, he bolsters the Cubs’ bullpen as the team looks to improve.
Fan Take: This milestone highlights the unpredictable nature of baseball, where a player can bounce back from adversity and achieve rare greatness in a single game. For fans, it’s a thrilling reminder of the sport’s deep history and ongoing excitement, signaling that every pitch matters and legends can emerge at any moment.
