John Smoltz whipped out his patented nasty slider Tuesday night to become only the 16th pitcher in major-league history to reach 3,000 strikeouts for his career. The 40-year-old fanned Felipe Lopez of the Washington Nationals on a slider for the second out of the third inning to get No. 3,000 and a frenzied standing ovation.
He needed four strikeouts to get there and got the fourth on a 2-2 pitch moving at 88 mph and biting downward as Lopez swung and missed. Afterward Smoltz pumped his right fist and dropped his head in relief. He was met on the mound by catcher Brian McCann for a high five and hug. Then McCann dropped the ball in Smoltz's glove for safe-keeping and slapped him on the back.
Smoltz was greeted by Chipper Jones and the rest of the infielders for hugs all around. At the end of the inning, he took several moments to acknowledge the fans, taking his cap off and waving it. Fans got a chance to cheer him on again after watching a video tribute on the big board during the break and standing to greet him as Smoltz came out to bat to lead off the bottom of the inning.
Smoltz had set up No. 300 by striking out pitcher John Lannan to lead off the third inning on a nasty slider worthy of a cleanup hitter.
With fans at Turner Field cheering every two-strike count like it was the third out of the ninth in Smoltz's closing days, he got his first two on back-to-back called strike-threes in the second inning. He locked up Nick Johnson on a curveball and Austin Kearns on a slider to get things rolling, before Lastings Milledge and Willie Harris hit consecutive doubles to give Washington a 1-0 lead and temper the moment.
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Smoltz joins 3,000 strikeout club
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Smoltz joins 3,000 strikeout club
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