Milwaukee Brewers infielder Craig Counsell came within one at-bat of tying catcher Bill Bergen's Major League record of 46 consecutive at-bats without a hit. Bergen, a catcher for the Brooklyn Superbas, set this distinctive record in 1909.
Counsell stepped up as a pinch-hitter in Friday's game in Houston and smoked a liner into right field, ending the 45 at-bat hitless streak. A smile came to the face of the 15-year veteran as he watched his teammates celebrate in the dugout. The single was Counsell's first hit since June 10, when he fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.
There was some dispute during the streak as to whether the record was 45 or 46. According to the Washington Post, Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio had an 0-44 stretch with Boston in 1971.
