White Sox's Montgomery sets single-season strikeout record

CHICAGO -- White Sox infielder Colson Montgomery set the record for most strikeouts in a season Friday after taking a third strike against Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano for Montgomery's 224th of the season.

It breaks the mark set by former Diamondbacks infielder Mark Reynolds, who struck out 223 times in 2009.

Montgomery, 24, worked a full count before taking a fastball over the heart of the plate for the record-setting strikeout. He has a 35.5% strikeout rate this season, second worst among qualified hitters, just behind teammate Munetaka Murakami (35.6%).

Similar to Reynolds, who hit 44 home runs that season, Montgomery has made good contact when he has connected. He has 31 home runs and 87 RBIs while contributing to a playoff team. But his chase and strikeout rates have gone up compared with his rookie year last season. He has struck out in all but two games he has played in this month.