Gerrit Cole hasn’t been with the New York Yankees for very long, but he is already one of the best starting pitchers the team has seen in the modern era.
He proved that again on Sunday by tying an impressive franchise record.
With his 10 strikeouts in New York’s 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins, he already recorded the 23rd double-digit strikeout game as a member of the Yanks. That ties a franchise record that had previously been held by Ron Guidry.
Keep in mind, it took Guidry 14 years and 323 starts to reach 23 double-digit strikeout games.
It took Cole just 79 starts in a little more than three years. One of those seasons (2020) was also shortened to only 60 games.
This means that Cole has struck out at least 10 batters in 30 percent of his starts as a member of the Yankees. That is impressive.
It’s even more staggering when you consider the pitchers that have been a part of the Yankees between him and Guidry. Players like Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, C.C. Sabathia and Mike Mussina were all unable able to accomplish this feat.
Sunday’s game was especially dominant for Cole as he allowed just two hits, one walk and struck out 10 in a complete game shutout.
He is now 4-0 on the season with a 0.95 ERA with 32 strikeouts to only eight walks in 28.1 innings pitched.
