It wasn’t the way anyone wanted to see it happen, but Matt Holliday’s National League record  streak of 45 consecutive games reaching base was officially snapped when he was ejected by home plate umpire Joe West after arguing a third strike call in the 7th inning on Tuesday.

It has the first time this season that the 35-year-old veteran failed to reach base in a game. The record, which was also a Cardinals franchise record, was the fifth-longest to start a season in the modern era. Yankees great Derek Jeter holds the longest such streak of 53 consecutive games.

Despite the anger expressed by fans, players, and broadcasters at West for ejecting Holliday, who was slowly walking towards the dugout at the time of the ejection, he had already struck out and was unlikely to come to the plate again in the game regardless. Peter Bourjos, who replaced Holliday in the Cardinals lineup, did not come to the plate later in the game.

Holliday hit .318 with three home runs and 24 RBI during the streak this year.

More to come.

 

Featured image used under Creative Commons by Keith Allison. No changes made. Image license.