Scherzer ties MLB record with 20 strikeouts
Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer tied a major-league record Wednesday by striking out 20 Detroit Tigers hitters in the Nationals' 3-2 victory.
The 31-year-old is just the fourth pitcher in major-league history to record 20 strikeouts in nine innings.
| Date | Pitcher | Team | SO | ER | H:BB | GSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/6/98 | Kerry Wood | CHC | 20 | 0 | 1:0 | 105 |
| 5/8/01 | Randy Johnson | ARI | 20 | 1 | 3:1 | 97 |
| 9/18/96 | Roger Clemens | BOS | 20 | 0 | 5:0 | 97 |
| 4/29/86 | Roger Clemens | BOS | 20 | 1 | 3:1 | 97 |
| 5/11/16 | Max Scherzer | WAS | 20 | 2 | 6:0 | 87 |
Scherzer didn't walk a batter - he threw just 23 balls the entire game - and gave up just six hits on 119 pitches. He did, however, allow solo home runs to Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez.
"The strikeouts are sexy. To be able to punch out 20, it’s sexy," Scherzer told reporters after the game.
Scherzer's previous career high was 17 strikeouts, which came when he no-hit the New York Mets in his final start of the 2015 season.
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The 20 strikeouts surpasses former Montreal Expos pitcher Bill Gullickson for the Nationals/Expos franchise single-game strikeout record. Gullickson recorded 18 strikeouts against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 10, 1980, at Olympic Stadium.
Scherzer joins Johnson as the only pitchers in history to have thrown both a no-hitter and a 20-strikeout game. Coincidentally, both can boast two no-hitters on their resumes. When asked which accomplishment he'd rank higher, Scherzer didn't even hesitate.
"I'll take 20," he said. "There's not too many guys who have done this."
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)