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Stefano FusaroESPN
HOUSTON — Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole became the second player in MLB history to record at least 12 strikeouts without a walk in a postseason game Saturday in leading Houston to a 2-0 lead in its American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians.
A day after Justin Verlander shut down Cleveland in Game 1, Cole was just as dominant, pitching seven innings while limiting the Indians to three hits and one run in the Astros’ 3-1 win.
The last pitcher to post 12 strikeouts without a walk in the playoffs was Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who did it with the New York Mets in Game 1 of the 1973 National League Championship Series.
The 12 K’s was a career postseason high or Cole, and it tied him with Nolan Ryan for third-most strikeouts in a single playoff game in Astros franchise history. It also marks the most strikeouts against Cleveland (including postseason) since his now teammate, Verlander struck out 12 Indians batters in 2016, as a member of the Detroit Tigers.
Cole became the fifth Astros pitcher with at least 10 strikeouts game in a postseason game, which also includes Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott, with Scott holding the franchise record with 14 in the 1986 NLCS.
Houston will look to close out the series on Monday when Keuchel is slated to start opposite Mike Clevinger in Cleveland.
Verlander struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings in Friday’s series opener for the defending World Series champions.
The Astros’ aces have been so good that even franchise luminaries are taking notice.
“Verlander and Cole? That’s as good a 1-2 punch as there is in baseball right now,” said former Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, who was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.