Gerrit Cole jokes about racking up strikeouts two different ways

Gerrit Cole pitched a complete game shutout against the Diamondbacks on Friday night and nearly threw a no-hitter, but what he was able to do at the plate may have been even more impressive.

Cole would have set an MLB record with 21 strikeouts in a single game, but there was one small problem — five of his K’s came as a hitter. After the Astros’ 8-0 win, Cole’s teammates presented him with both their pitcher of the night robe and hitter of the night robe. Cole was a great sport about it.

“This is the Pitcher of the Game robe and this is the Hitter of the Game robe,” he said, per Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic. “Since I got the platinum sombrero, that’s 21 total strikeouts on the evening. Tied Roger Clemens. It was a good night.”

Had it been 21 strikeouts as a pitcher, Cole actually would have broken the record for K’s in a single game, which is a feat that was accomplished by Clemens twice and Kerry Wood and Max Scherzer each one time.

All joking aside, Cole allowed just one hit and dropped his ERA to 1.42 on the season. Most pitchers don’t stay in a game long enough to have the opportunity to strike out five times, but that’s what happens when you toss a complete game. Cole already made MLB history in one of his starts earlier this year, and he has been better than advertised since the Astros acquired him via trade.