(Arlington) Three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer reached the top 10 in major league baseball in career strikeouts Thursday.
The Rangers right-hander got ahead of Justin Verlander when he struck out White Sox designated hitter Eloy Jimenez in the second. It was his 3,394the withdrawal on sockets.
Scherzer (2-3) struck out nine batters in six innings, finishing the game with 3,400 strikeouts, in 10e place.
Texas beat Chicago 2-1.
Scherzer tied Verlander in the first inning when he forced Andrew Vaughn to ground out of the strike zone.
“It’s pretty incredible. If you look at his career, to be in the top 10, it’s pretty special,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said before the game. “This game has been around for a long time and he’s one of the best pitchers in the game. The numbers prove it.”
Two days before his 40th birthdaye birthday, Scherzer was playing a 464e career game, in 17 seasons in the majors.
He also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
Scherzer helped the Nationals win the World Series in 2019 and the Rangers do the same in 2023.
Scherzer and Verlander, of the Astros, were teammates with Detroit (2010-14) and the Mets (last year).
Scherzer won the Cy Young in 2013, 2016 and 2017. Verlander received the honor in 2011, 2019 and 2022.
Verlander hasn’t pitched for Houston since June 9 because of neck tightness, which landed him on injured reserve.
His 519 starts are the most among active pitchers. Scherzer is second with 455.
It was Scherzer’s seventh start this season following offseason back surgery.
The reigning World Series champions, the Rangers, won their fifth consecutive game.