July 29, 1977 - Braves knuckle ball pitcher Phil Niekro struck out four Pittsburgh Pirates in one inning - the first pitcher in Brave history to do so. It's possible because baseball rules provide that if a catcher fails to catch the ball on a batter's third strike, that batter can try to make first base. In such a case, if the batter makes first base, the pitcher is credited with a strike out, but the out doesn't count against the team at bat.
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