Kerry Wood welcomes Max Scherzer to 20 strikeout club
Former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood welcomed Max Scherzer to the 20 strikeout club after an epic performance.
The 20 strikeout club is one of the most exclusive clubs in all of sports. Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer joined it on Wednesday, May 11 after dominating his former team, the Detroit Tigers. Since 1986, the feat has only been accomplished on five occasions.
It has only been accomplished by four pitchers (Roger Clemens accomplished the feat twice). Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood also did the feat in arguably the best game that any pitcher has ever pitched, giving up just one hit in the process. Wood welcomed Scherzer to the club on Twitter.
Wood’s performance was extremely special. He walked zero batters and only give up one extremely controversial hit off the glove of third baseman Kevin Orie during the game.
Scherzer wasn’t too far off. Though he allowed two earned runs in the process, he walked zero batters and only threw 23 balls in the entire game.
Regardless, an impressive and historic performance by Scherzer that might be even cooler than his two no-hitters last season because he did it against his old team.
Scherzer’s 20 strikeouts are also a franchise record for the Nationals.
For more MLB coverage, check out our hub page.