BOSTON — Seattle Mariners veteran Felix Hernandez became the 36th major league pitcher with 2,500 career strikeouts, getting it in the second inning Saturday against the Boston Red Sox.
The 33-year-old right-hander fanned rookie Michael Chavis looking with a 92 mph fastball for the milestone. He is the fourth active pitcher to reach the mark — behind the Yankees’ CC Sabathia, Houston’s Justin Verlander and Washington’s Max Scherzer.
Hernandez added one more strikeout before he was chased by the Red Sox after giving up six runs on six hits in just 2 1/3 innings.
At 33 years, 33 days of age, King Felix is the sixth-youngest to get to 2,500 strikeouts, trailing Nolan Ryan (31.101), Walter Johnson (31.197), Pedro Martinez (32.221), Tom Seaver (32.287) and Bert Blyleven (33.000).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.