DENVER — On a night of their worst loss, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole continued his dominance over opposing batters and put a franchise record. He surpassed Ron Guidry to become the pitcher in pinstripes to have the most double-digit strikeouts.
Despite the Yankees’ heartbreaking 8-7, 11-inning defeat to the Rockies at Coors Field, Gerrit Cole’s exceptional outing gave them ample opportunity to secure a victory. He recorded an impressive 11 strikeouts over six innings, allowing only one run.
During the game, Gerrit Cole showcased his dominance by striking out six consecutive batters, contributing to his impressive record of 24 double-digit strikeout games as a Yankee. With this achievement, he became the franchise’s all-time leader in this category.
Gerrit Cole expressed his awe and gratitude when asked about surpassing Ron Guidry’s record. He mentioned that it’s difficult to fully grasp the significance of the achievement and acknowledged Guidry as one of the legendary Yankees. Cole considered it a humbling experience to be mentioned in the same context as Guidry and expressed deep appreciation for the milestone.
Gerrit Cole’s Yankees record
In his 95th game as a Yankee, all of which were starts, Gerrit Cole achieved his 24th double-digit strikeout game. Comparatively, Guidry took 368 games (323 starts) to establish the record.
Manager Aaron Boone praised Gerrit Cole’s achievement, acknowledging that he obtained the record in a relatively short span of games. Boone emphasized the Yankees ace’s excellence in the game, particularly highlighting his precise fastball location, command, and minimal mistakes.
As a result, Gerrit Cole’s ERA dropped to 2.78 in his 20th start of the campaign.
The lone imperfection on his performance on Sunday was the solo home run conceded in the second inning to Michael Toglia. The pitch that led to the homer was a fastball located just beyond the edge of the strike zone. Apart from that, Gerrit Cole effortlessly navigated through the game, generating a remarkable 21 swings and misses out of his 102 pitches.
From the second inning to the fifth, the Yankees ace showcased his dominance by striking out nine consecutive batters for outs. He expressed his satisfaction with his performance, highlighting his excellent pitch placement and the effectiveness of his pitches, particularly in two-strike counts.
Gerrit Cole continued to surpass franchise records previously held by Guidry, adding yet another milestone to his growing list of accomplishments.
In the previous season, the Yankees ace eclipsed Guidry’s franchise record for single-season strikeouts, accumulating an impressive 257 strikeouts compared to Guidry’s previous record of 248.
Gerrit Cole acknowledged that the difference in eras should be taken into consideration when looking at his double-digit strikeout total. However, he emphasized the significance of being surrounded by a team of great Yankees, something he had dreamed of and aspired to since childhood.
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