Breaking down Gerrit Cole’s historic winning streak heading into World Series Game 1
By Luke Norris
July 6 vs. Los Angeles Angels
The Houston Astros dominated the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, including this 4-0 win on July 6 at Minute Maid Park. Gerrit Cole continued to be masterful, throwing seven shutout innings, giving up just three hits while striking out nine, raising his league-leading total to 170. Cole actually seemed to get stronger as the game went on, retiring 14 of the last 15 batters he faced and hit 101.1 mph on his 110th and last pitch of the game.
W/L: 9-5
ERA: 3.09
K: 170
July 12 @ Texas Rangers
This was another game that the Astros lost but Cole did not factor in the decision. He was in decent control, throwing 74 of his 101 pitches for strikes, but he gave up solo homers in the first, third and fourth innings, all of which flew more than 400 feet, and exited the game after six innings having given up four runs, the most he’d given up in a game since that loss to the White Sox in May. It was all or nothing on this day as he was either giving up the long ball or making people miss with his 13 strikeouts. He left with a four-run lead but the bullpen couldn’t keep it together and the Rangers walked off with a 9-8 win.
W/L: 9-5
ERA: 3.23
K: 183
July 17 @ Los Angeles Angels
Gerrit Cole’s second start against the Angels in 11 days was another gem. The Newport Beach native, who went to high school less than 10 miles from Angel Stadium, reached double digits in strikeouts for the 11th time on the year, fanning 11 Halos while walking only one in seven innings. Los Angeles was able to get seven hits on Cole but were only able to score one run on the starter in an 11-2 Houston victory. This was Cole’s 10th outing since the loss to Chicago and he moved to 6-0 with a 2.11 ERA in that span.
W/L: 10-5
ERA: 3.12
K: 194
July 22 vs. Oakland A’s
Eleven was the number of the night as the Astros took on the A’s on July 22. The team wore a special cap that night in honor of the Apollo 11 mission and not only did the offense score 11 runs, Gerrit Cole struck out 11 in another strong outing, picking up his 11th win. Seriously, how much fun is that? Oakland came into the night having hit a home run in 21 consecutive games but could only manage two doubles and one run against Cole, who didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning. Cole surpassed the 200-strikeout mark for the second consecutive season and the third time in his career.
W/L: 11-5
ERA: 3.03
K: 205
July 27 @ St. Louis Cardinals
Gerrit Cole admitted to not being in great command of his stuff on July 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals, throwing just over 65 percent of his pitches for strikes, well below his average. However, the results stayed the same. In his third consecutive seven-inning outing, Cole gave up just one run on four hits on a night where the Cardinals were honoring the 2004 NL pennant-winning club that beat Houston in seven games. How times have changed.
W/L: 12-5
ERA: 2.94
K: 212