MILWAUKEE -- Just when it appeared
“It’s nice to run alongside of him, that’s for sure,” Cole said of Verlander.\n\nAccording to Elias, the Astros are the first team to have pitchers with at least 14 strikeouts in consecutive games since the mound was moved to 60 feet, 6 inches in 1893.
\n\n“Those guys, 1-2 punch, are really tough,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said. “We have a ton of confidence when \\[Cole is\\] pitching. We know we’re going to be in the game, we know we’re going to miss bats. His competitive fire is really second to none. He knows what he’s doing out there and when he’s in control of the game, he’s completely dominant.”\n\nCole remained unbeaten in his last 17 starts (2.03 ERA) and was in line for his 12th consecutive win before Christian Yelich took closer Roberto Osuna deep on an 0-2 pitch for a game-tying homer to start the ninth inning. Still, Cole extended his club record with his 16th double-digit strikeout game of the season while passing Verlander for the Major League lead with 266 strikeouts.\n
“Definitely a well-pitched game,” Yelich said. “Gerrit was doing what he’s been doing all year. \\[Brewers starter Adrian\\] Houser was able to match him and we were able to battle back there. We just couldn’t push that last one across.”\n\nCole has struck out 12 batters in each of his last three starts, becoming the first pitcher to do that since Cleveland’s Corey Kluber in 2017. He’s also the first pitcher in Astros history with at least three 14-strikeout games in a season and the only one to do it in consecutive starts.\n\n“Just keep trying to focus on the things I can control,” he said. “Some of the numbers are kind of special but it’s something to be celebrating when all the work is done. Right now, I just have a few things I want to stay focused on and continue to prepare well for the postseason.”\n\nCole threw 105 pitches in his fastball-heavy outing, including a 100.2 mph heater that Ryan Braun fouled off on Cole's second-to-last pitch. His biggest strikeout of the game, though, came an inning earlier when he struck out Yasmani Grandal with the bases loaded.
“Just try to not let him get a hit and he chased a slider up,” Cole said. “Got fortunate there.”\n\n
After the game, Cole tipped his cap to