Max Scherzer ties MLB record with 20 strikeouts against Tigers

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 11: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park on May 11, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer is no stranger to making history. Last season, he completed two no-hitters, including one in which he came just one out short of a perfect game.

Now he's etched his name in the history books under a different category of pitching dominance. In Wednesday's 3-2 victory against his former team, the Detroit Tigers, Scherzer tied the major-league record by striking out 20 batters in a nine-inning game.

Scherzer actually had a chance to set a record. He entered the ninth with 18 strikeouts before fanning Miguel Cabrera and Justin Upton. He retired James McCann on a game-ending groundout that some fans may have wished third baseman Anthony Rendon booted just to give him one more shot.

As it was, the Nationals got a win and Scherzer's performance will go down as one of the most dominant in MLB history. Especially when factoring in his command. Scherzer did not issue a single walk the entire game. He only allowed two runs on six hits, including a ninth-inning homer to J.D. Martinez.

Scherzer was no doubt fueled by facing Detroit. He left the Tigers following the 2014 season when they couldn't agree to terms on a contract extension. Scherzer would land a seven-year, $210 million deal with Washington. This was the first time Scherzer had pitched against his former team since.

The other equation was manager Dusty Baker. He's been known to give pitchers some leeway with high pitch counts in these situations, and he wasn't about to pull Scherzer here unless he really felt threatened. Scherzer ended up tossing 119 pitches, which is manageable given his workhorse mentality.

Scherzer's outing comes just five days after the 18th anniversary of Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game against the Houston Astros. Roger Clemens is the only other pitcher to notch a 20-strikeout game. He did it twice for the Boston Red Sox, with the first coming in 1986 and the second coming in 1996.

 

Both of those pitchers reaction to Scherzer's outing on Twitter.

 

	Kerry Wood @KerryWood
Congratulations to @Max_Scherzer on an impressive and dominant performance tonight. Welcome to the club! #Filthy 6:52 PM - 11 May 2016   Jose de Jesus Ortiz @OrtizKicks "Haven't seen it, but fantastic," Roger Clemens said of Max Scherzer's gem. 7:14 PM - 11 May 2016

Oddly enough, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus has been involved in three of those 20-strikeout games, all on the losing side.

	David Schoenfield @dschoenfield
Brad Ausmus played in both the Wood and second Clemens game. So he's now 0-3 in 20-strikeout games. 7:04 PM - 11 May 2016

Randy Johnson once amassed 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. However, since the game went to extra innings his place in the record book was wiped away.

Regardless, anytime a pitcher a flirts with 20 strikeouts at all or notches a number in the high teens, it's a special outing. And there's no doubt people will remember Scherzer's night and the other remarkable performances for a long time to come.