For those of you who weren't following the gameday thread or able to catch the game, here is some news:

Tonight, Brad Ziegler set a new American League record for consecutive scoreless innings to start a career, passing Boston's Dave Ferriss (1945) with an inning pitched against Tampa Bay. That puts him at 22 2/3 innings, 22 being the previous mark.

During the broadcast, it was mentioned that George McQuillan of the Philadelphia Phillies has the National League (and subsequently, Major League) record of 25 innings to begin his career, set way back in 1907. Small world, considering it was the Phillies who let Ziegler go from their minor league system a few years ago.

For someone who has worked as long and as hard as Ziegler has to get to the Major Leagues after being told he was too old and not good enough for the Phillies, to being hit by a line drive in the head in High-A, to being asked to change his entire pitching style, to getting hit in the head a second time this past offseason, to make it to the highest level and set a record like this? It may be an obscure one but now he's probably going to have something in the Hall of Fame. I think that's pretty amazing.

Added: Some news-related links:

From Joe Stiglich:

"Honestly, when I'm out there I wasn't thinking about (the record)," Ziegler said. "When I tied (the AL mark) and they stopped and asked me to throw the ball in, that's when I realized it."

Ziegler did some research on Boo (real name David) Ferriss once he heard his name come up "to see what kind of guy he was."

Ferriss had a 65-30 record in six seasons with Boston.

"It seems like he had a decent career," Ziegler said.

From Susan Slusser:

Ziegler said he thought Peña's ball was out initially and, he said, "I tell you, it wasn't a good pitch. ... He got a lot of it, but thankfully he was a little late."

...

"It's exciting to be at the top of a league record two months into my career," Ziegler said. "It's pretty crazy. But it's a tribute to the team. I rely on my defense; I don't strike guys out."

Ziegler is closing in on the A's longest scoreless streak by a relief pitcher, Rick Honeycutt's 24 1/3 innings, June 25-Sept. 14, 1995.

After Ziegler matched Ferriss' mark, the ball was thrown into the dugout as a keepsake.

From Mychael Urban:

The A's have come to almost expect great pitching and defense, but few expected this from Ziegler. The sidearmer with near-criminal sink and command tied the AL record of 22 set by Boston's Boo Ferriss in 1945 when he retired Gabe Gross on a ground ball to start the seventh inning.

"I think for the most part he locates really well," Gross said. "He doesn't do a whole lot besides come right at you. You would think that would uncomplicate things, but he comes at you, tries to keep the ball down from that angle. When he's keeping the ball down, it's hard to do anything but beat the ball in the dirt."

...

Poor pitches are a rarity for Ziegler, said Braden. The two were teammates at Triple-A Sacramento earlier this year.

"He's been unreal the entire year," Braden gushed. "He was our go-to guy in Triple-A, and he's our go-to guy here now. Just lights-out all year long."