The Ryan Express rolls through K.C.

The Angels’ Nolan Ryan strikes out 16 Minnesota Twins in California’s 5-4 victory 50 years ago tonight in Anaheim.

He does this in 11 innings, too, making Rich Reese his final strikeout of the game and record-setting 383rd of the season.

Sandy Koufax is the previous holder of the single-season record with 382 strikeouts in 1965.

Six of Ryan’s 16 strikeouts in this game come against Hall of Famers Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva.

The game – before a Thursday night crowd of 9,100 at Anaheim Stadium – ends when Richie Scheinblum’s one-out double in the bottom of the 11th easily scores Tom McCraw from second base.

For Ryan, the 383 strikeouts in 1973 come between seasons in which he strikes out 329 and 367 batters, giving him 1,079 in 121 starts and one relief appearance during his first three seasons with the Angels.

Ryan eventually pitches through the 1993 season, finishing a Hall of Fame career in which he wins 324 games over 27 seasons in the majors with a record 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters.