Washington Nationals Max Scherzer ties MLB record with 20 strikeouts
Washington Nationals starter Max Scherzer joined an exclusive group on Wednesday night, becoming the fourth pitcher to strike out 20 batters in a 9-inning game.
On the day that Major League Baseball handed down a one-game suspension to his teammate Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer made headlines for a much more positive reason. The 31-year old right-hander tied the record for strikeouts in a 9-inning game, fanning 20 in a 3-2 win Wednesday night over the Detroit Tigers.
With 18 Ks through 8 innings and closer Jonathan Papelbon warming in the bullpen, Scherzer took back to the mound and struck out Miguel Cabrera and Justin Upton to forge his way into a tie for the record. A ground ball fielder’s choice off the bat of James McCann ended the game and Scherzer’s chance for history.
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The only other players to ever strike out 20 in a 9-inning game were Roger Clemens, who accomplished the feat twice, Randy Johnson, and Kerry Wood.
Scherzer’s previous career-high for strikeouts was 17, which he got in a no-hitter against the Mets last October. Bill Gullickson had held the Expos/Nationals franchise record of 18 strikeouts in a game since 1980.
This was the first meeting between Scherzer and the Tigers, whom he left to sign a 7-year, $210 million contract with prior to last season. Scherzer won the 2013 Cy Young award for Detroit and tossed two no-hitters for the Nationals in 2015.
Scherzer also got the win in this ballgame, allowing two runs on six hits and not walking a batter. In all, he threw 119 pitches, an absurd 96 of which were for strikes. Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, James McCann and Anthony Gose each struck out three times apiece.
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Washington improved to 21-13 in 2016, and sit in a tie with the New York Mets atop the National League East. Scherzer is now 4-2 through his first eight starts.