Before Garrett beat Soto, the 22-year-old needed to reach in four more plate appearances to tie the modern record set by Williams in 1957. Ward’s legendary streak, achieved in 1893, was still five away. But in the end, it was not meant to be. Soto fell behind 0-1, then 1-2, then walked back to the dugout in shame, staring at the unmarked barrel of his bat.