Max Scherzer's 20-strikeout game (2016)
20 strikeouts, zero walks, one immortal night.
On the night of May 11, 2016, Max Scherzer didn't just pitch—he painted a masterpiece of dominance, striking out 20 Detroit Tigers over nine innings to tie the major league record for a nine-inning game. The Washington Nationals right-hander carved his name into baseball immortality, cementing his legacy as one of the game's elite and etching a defining moment into Nationals franchise history.
- Role
- Starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals
- Opponent
- Detroit Tigers
- Date
- May 11, 2016
- Venue
- Nationals Park
- Strikeouts
- 20
- Innings Pitched
- 9
- Result
- Nationals win 3-2
Lore & Background
Max Scherzer's 20-strikeout game is a cherished chapter in Nationals lore, showcasing his fierce competitiveness and surgical precision. The performance tied the MLB record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game, joining legends like Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, and Randy Johnson. But Scherzer did what none of them had: he did it without walking a single batter, striking out 19 of the first 24 he faced. It was the first perfect-strikeout gem of its kind, a feat that still echoes through baseball history.
In Their Own Story
The night air at Nationals Park crackled with tension as Scherzer toed the rubber in the ninth inning, already with 19 strikeouts. The crowd, on its feet, roared with every pitch. With two outs, Scherzer unleashed a 97-mph fastball that froze Tigers batter Jose Iglesias, securing the 20th strikeout and etching his name into baseball immortality. The stadium erupted, and Scherzer, usually stoic, allowed a rare smile as his teammates mobbed him.
Reader's Guide
Max Scherzer's 20-strikeout game occurred on May 11, 2016, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Facing the Detroit Tigers, Scherzer struck out 20 batters over nine innings, allowing only two runs on six hits and no walks. This tied the major league record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game, a feat previously achieved by Roger Clemens (twice), Kerry Wood, and Randy Johnson. Scherzer's performance was notable for its efficiency—he threw only 119 pitches—and his ability to mix a devastating slider with a high-velocity fastball. The game remains the only 20-strikeout performance in Nationals history and is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitching displays of the 21st century.
Did You Know?
- Scherzer became the first pitcher to record 20 strikeouts without issuing a walk in MLB history.
- He struck out 19 of the first 24 batters he faced, including 14 of the first 15.
- The game marked the first 20-strikeout performance by a National since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005.
- Scherzer's 20 strikeouts remain the most by any pitcher in a single game in the 2010s decade.
More in Honours & Records
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