Felix passes Pettitte on all-time strikeouts list
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SEATTLE -- Mariners right-hander Félix Hernández continued his journey up the all-time strikeouts list in Monday night's 7-4 win over the Astros, but this time with a little extra drama.
Hernandez got Carlos Correa swinging to end the fifth inning to register his 2,449th strikeout, passing Andy Pettitte for 40th place. Hernandez asked for the ball, but first baseman Robinson Canó had already thrown it into the stands.
That's when Mariners second baseman Dee Gordon came to the rescue.
"I see Fee-Fee [Hernandez] asking, 'Where's the ball at?'" Gordon said. "So I had to try to get it back."
Gordon bolted out of the dugout and ran towards the stands, removing his cap and wristband to offer up a trade to the fan who caught the ball: 10-year-old Jackson.
"I've been really waiting for one," Jackson said. "A few of them went right over my head and finally that was the one."
Jackson said he didn't know the ball was special when he caught it, but that Gordon offered a good trade. The exchange was made, so King Felix will get to hang onto this milestone memento while Jackson made a ballpark memory he'll never forget.
Next on the list is Sam McDowell, who totaled 2,453 punchouts over the course of his 15-year MLB career.
"It's something personal to keep making history," Hernandez said. "Something that my son will look at when he grows up, 'Felix Hernandez did this. My dad did this.' I'm pretty happy for him."