Hamels punches out Martin to join 2,000 strikeout club

Texas Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels is the latest member of the 2,000 strikeout club.

Hamels achieved the mark when he struck out Seattle Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin in the third inning Sunday. He became the 77th player in major league history to accomplish the feat.

The lefty joined CC Sabathia, Bartolo Colon, Felix Hernandez, Jake Peavy, John Lackey, and Justin Verlander as the only other active members of the 2,000 strikeout club.

Coming into Sunday's matchup, Hamels was 5-1 with a 3.32 ERA while notching 76 strikeouts. His highest strikeout total came in 2012, when he struck out 216 batters in 215 1/3 innings as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.