Astros' Cole continues scorching start with 16 Ks in complete game

Houston Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole has looked like a surefire Cy Young candidate since his April 1 debut with his new club, but he saved his best to date for his first start of May.

Cole dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday as he struck out a career-high 16 in a complete-game, one-hit shutout. He threw 82 of his 114 pitches for strikes, issuing a single walk and carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning.

His 16 punchouts matched MLB's season high, set Wednesday when Seattle Mariners southpaw James Paxton struck out 16 Oakland Athletics over eight innings. Paxton left with the lead, and the Mariners' bullpen blew it in the ninth.

The Astros let Cole finish what he started.

The outing tied Cole for second on the Astros' all-time list for strikeouts in a single game, matching Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Don Wilson, according to Baseball Reference. Only Wilson has ever notched more, striking out 18 in a start against the Cincinnati Reds in 1968.

Adrenaline may have been pumping through Cole's veins by the end, as he threw his most forceful pitch to finish the game.

Through seven starts with the Astros, Cole is 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA. He's allowed 26 hits and eight earned runs over 50 2/3 innings, while striking out 77 and issuing only nine walks.