Mark Buehrle participant of 2004 Major League Baseball season
Major League career
Chicago White Sox (2000-2011)
2000–2004
Buehrle made his major league debut on July 16, 2000, pitching one inning of relief against the Milwaukee Brewers and allowing a run. Three days later he started against Minnesota, allowing six hits and two runs in seven innings while earning a win.In 2001, Buehrle's first year as a major league starter, he went 16–8 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 starts. He threw 24+2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings from May 26 to June 7, the most by a White Sox pitcher since Tommy John threw 25 scoreless innings in 1967. Buehrle recorded his first complete game on May 26 against the Detroit Tigers and later pitched two consecutive complete games on August 3 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (a one-hitter) and on August 8 against the Anaheim Angels.In 2002, Buehrle posted a 19–12 record in 34 starts, and ranked among the American League leaders in innings pitched (second, 239), games started (tied second, 34), complete games (tied second, 5), shutouts (tied second, 2), wins (tied fourth, 19) and quality starts (tied fifth, 23). Buehrle pitched at least six innings 30 times and at least eight innings nine times. FOX Sports Net Chicago honored him as the White Sox Player of the Year. He was selected as a member of the Major League All-Star Team that played in Japan in November. In his one start, he allowed four runs on five hits over three innings, before leaving with a bruised left shoulder sustained when he was hit with a line drive off the bat of Hideki Matsui.
Buehrle set a career high with 35 starts in 2003, posting a 14–14 record with a 4.14 ERA. He ranked among the American League leaders in starts (tied second), quality starts (third, 24) and innings pitched (fifth).In 2004, Buehrle led the American League in innings pitched with 245+1⁄3, in games started with 35, and in complete games with five. He ranked among the AL leaders in quality starts (third, 23), walks per nine innings (fifth, 1.87), wins (tied sixth, 16), strikeout to-walk ratio (seventh, 3.24), ERA (eighth, 3.89) and strikeouts (ninth, 165). Buehrle lasted at least six innings in each of his last 28 starts. On July 21 in Cleveland, he faced the minimum 27 batters in a two-hit shutout of the Indians.