Los Angeles Dodgers starter Max Scherzer became the 19th pitcher in major league history with 3,000 strikeouts on Sunday.
The 37-year-old right-hander fanned the San Diego Padres’ Eric Hosmer in the fifth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium.
The crowd gave a standing ovation to the three-time Cy Young Award winner, and Scherzer responded by thanking him with the cap. After striking out Hosmer with six pitches, he put the ball away as a souvenir.
With the strikeout, Scherzer was perfect after five innings of a game in which he also posted a flawless inning. Scherzer has two no-hitters in his 14-season career, but he has never pitched a perfect game.
Knowing that Scherzer needed one more strikeout to hit the mark, fans stood up every time he placed an enemy on two strikes. Some recorded the moment on their cell phone.
Scherzer came into the game with six strikeouts remaining for 3,000. (MLB in Spanish)
Max Scherzer, 19th pitcher to hit 3,000 strikeouts
