WASHINGTON -- Max Scherzer tied the nine-inning strikeout record on Wednesday, fanning 20 Tigers batters in Washington's 3-2 win at Nationals Park.
Scherzer's previous career high, and the previous Nationals record, was 17, set in a season-ending no-hitter on Oct. 3, 2015. He also bested the Expos franchise record of 18, set by Bill Gullickson on Sept. 10, 1980. His 20 K's tied Kerry Wood, Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson for the most in a nine-inning game.
"I just went out there and tried to execute [my fastball] and throw the slider off of that, and it worked," Scherzer said.