Scott Diamond and the missing strikeouts

Scott Diamond allowed just three hits through six innings
Thursday, but couldn't get through the seventh without help.

Scott Diamond on Tuesday had his first quality start (in the majors) since July 26. He got his first win (in the majors) since June 20.

It came against the White Sox, one of the few teams indisputably worse than the Twins, but it still had the left-hander feeling a good bit better about his pitching.

Me being me, I'm struck by what didn't happen in his outing: A strikeout.

Diamond got 19 outs, and none of them on strikes. For the season, Diamond is averaging just 3.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The American League average is 7.6, so Diamond's K rate is less than half the average.

I had to laugh when I came across this phrasing in the Pioneer Press gamer: "... Diamond failed to record a strikeout for just the third time this season ..." The implication is that it's common for starters to get a zero in that part of the linescore. 

It isn't. Going K-less in three starts in a season is unusual. And not a good sign.