PITTSBURGH -- Fiery. Competitive. A leader.

Those are three terms Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol used to describe right-hander Lance Lynn just hours before the 12th-year pro became the 89th pitcher in MLB history to reach the 2,000-strikeout plateau.

Entering the game sitting on 1,998 career strikeouts, Lynn struck out a pair of hitters over five scoreless frames in St. Louis’ 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

After fanning Nick Gonzales in the third inning, Lynn got Jared Triolo swinging on a fastball on the outside edge of the plate to end the fourth inning. The only problem? The ball was then promptly tossed into the stands by catcher Willson Contreras. The St. Louis backstop then had to barter with the Pirates fan sitting behind the dugout, successfully exchanging a bat for the milestone baseball.

The feat made Lynn one of six active pitchers to record 2,000 strikeouts in their career and the fifth pitcher to record the feat as a member of the Cardinals.