Aaron Judge wasn’t the only Yankee who made history Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers.
Ace Gerrit Cole became the franchise’s single-season strikeout out leader by passing Ron Guidry with his 249th strikeout this season when he fanned Nathaniel Low of the Rangers in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Field.
Cole tipped his cap toward the Yankees dugout and the ball was rolled into the dugout for safe keeping. Judge, who hit home run No. 62 earlier in the game and was later pulled, clapped into his glove in acknowledgement of his teammate’s feat.
Guidry set the old mark by striking out 248 hitters in 1978, a year the Yankees went on to win the World Series. Cole, who had six strikeouts in the first four innings, likely hopes this history also repeats itself his season. After each strikeout Cole has recorded throughout the game, the ball has been sent to the dugout since it’s a new record.
In the top of the first inning, Judge homered off Jesus Tinoco, leading off in the second-to-last regular season game on the season to make him the American League and Yankees franchise record holder.
