ATLANTA – Chris Sale took another step toward one of the top 25 strikeout totals in MLB history in the second inning against the Phillies in Sunday's 6-2 win at Truist Park.
Sale needed just three strikeouts to pass Chuck Finley for sole possession of 28th place on the all-time list, and he reached that with a second-inning strikeout of Adolis García. He also moved into seventh place in career strikeouts for left-handed pitchers. The 37-year-old passed Tom Glavine for 29th place with 2,608 strikeouts in his last start.
Sale finished one strikeout shy of what would have been the 92nd double-digit strikeout total of his career. He ranks eighth on the list, trailing Curt Schilling (93) by two games and Sandy Kourfax by six games.
Sale got the Phillies to whiff with seven of 13 swings against his slider and with half of eight swings against his changeup. He has recorded at least six strikeouts in five of his first six starts. Sale improved to 5-1 this season, and the win was the 150th of his 16-year career.
Sale is 51 strikeouts from matching David Cone, who ranks 27th on the all-time list with 2,668 strikeouts. Next on the list would be Frank Tanana at 2,773 strikeouts. Tanana is also the next target for Sale to pass on the all-time list for left-handed pitchers.