Yankees’ Gerrit Cole tied for third fastest with 2,000 career strikeouts

New York Yankees Gerrit Cole had his 2,000th career hit on Tuesday night against the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

Cole became the third fastest pitcher to 2,000 strikeouts in both games played (278) and innings pitched (1,714 2/3). Only Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw reached the milestone in fewer games, while Chris Sale and Pedro Martinez accomplished the milestone in fewer innings.

Cole, who entered Tuesday with 1,998 strikeouts, had a rough start in the series opener, allowing two runs in the first inning. But he retired the side in order in the second and hit back-to-back hits to Terrin Vavra and Jorge Mateo to end the inning and reach 2,000.

Cole, 32, amassed his strikeouts with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2013-17), Houston Astros (2018-19) and 11 major league seasons. Yankees (2020-23). He led the majors in strikeouts twice, fanning 326 in 2019 and 257 last year.

Cole was 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA in 10 starts before Tuesday’s game.

— Field Level Media