Gerrit Cole Makes History With 2,000th Strikeout in Yankees’ Win Over Orioles

• Gerrit Cole recorded his 2,000th career strikeout on Tuesday against the Orioles
• The Yankees ace is the third-fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach that mark
• The Yankees came from behind to beat the Orioles in extra innings

Gerrit Cole made history on Tuesday, becoming the third-fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 2,000 career strikeouts.

The 32-year-old notched the milestone strikeout against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

Cole nabbed no. 2,000 with his second K of the evening, getting Orioles shortstop Jorge Mateo swinging in the top of the second inning.

Cole accomplishes historic feat

The Yankees ace was pitching in his 278th career game. Only Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw have reached the 2,000-strikeout mark faster in terms of games pitched, per MLB.com.

Johnson accomplished that feat in his 262nd career game, while Kershaw recorded his 2000th K in his 277th career outing.

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Cole is also the third-fastest player in MLB history to record 2,000 strikeouts in terms of innings pitched, reaching that mark in 1,714 2/3 innings.

He trails only Boston pitcher Chris Sale (1,626) and Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez (1,711 1/3).

Cole is the 87th pitcher in the majors to reach the 2,000-strikeout plateau, and the eighth player to do so with the New York Yankees.

He joins Yankee pitchers Catfish Hunter, Mike Mussina, David Cone, Dwight Gooden, Bobo Newsom, CC Sabathia, and Andy Pettitte on the exclusive list.

Cole struggles on the mound

Cole struggled in Tuesday’s game, allowing five runs and six hits in five innings pitched. He also walked three batters and surrendered two homers.

His teammates picked him up, though, as the Yankees staged a late fightback.

They erased an early four-run deficit, tying the game with three runs in the fifth inning.

Baltimore headed into the ninth inning with a 5-4 lead, but closer Felix Bautista failed to record the save.

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Aaron Judge sent Yankees fans into a frenzy, launching a game-tying solo homer in the bottom of the ninth.

The Yankees completed the comeback in the bottom of the 10th, with Anthony Volpe driving in the game-winning run with a walk-off sacrifice fly.

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