Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson also joined the 20 strikeout club, but the latter did so in a game that went into extra innings (the Big Unit fanned the batters before the extra frames began). But Scherzer then struck out Miguel Cabrera, allowed a single to Victor Martinez, whiffed Justin Upton and got James McCann on a grounder to end the contest.
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The prolific performance came on the heels on one of Scherzer’s worst outings as a big leaguer, when he gave up four homers and seven earned runs to the Chicago Cubs.
“That was one of the more dominant performances I’ve ever come across”, said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, also an opponent during Wood’s 20-strikeout game and one of the two compiled by Clemens.
Scherzer will take the hill in the top of the ninth inning with 18 strikeouts to his name.
Daniel Murphy had three hits, including a double and a pair of RBI singles off Zimmermann.
Garcia’s only blemish came on a two-run homer by C.J. Cron in the fourth inning, but the runs were unearned because the homer came immediately after third baseman Matt Carpenter’s two-out error.
Listen to a montage of all 20 strikeouts below. FILE – In this May 9, 2016 file photo, Washington Nationals’ Clint Robinson (25) high-fives third base coach Bob Henley (13) as he rounds the bases after he hit a walk off home run during the ninth inning of an interleague b…
When Zimmermann stepped to bat for the first time against his former teammate in the third inning, the fans at Nationals Park finally saw a chance to thank him for his seven seasons there, and rose to their feet. He gave up single runs in the 1st, 6th and on a solo home run by Danny Espinosa in the 7th.
Zimmermann briefly backed out and tipped his helmet in appreciation, then became Scherzer’s sixth strikeout, going down swinging on a 1-2 curveball.
In some ways, Max Scherzer’s $210 million free agent contract that brought him to the Nationals from the Tigers can be seen as having led to Jordan Zimmermann’s departure from the Nationals to the Tigers as a free agent a year later. He bounced back to strike out Cabrera for number 19. Scherzer would pitch the complete game allowing two runs on six hits and no walks earning a 3-2 win.
The Orioles won the final two games of the three-game series after the opener was postponed Monday.
He tied the Major League Baseball record for most K’s in a nine-inning game.
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MARINERS 6, RAYS 5, 11 innings (at Seattle) – Chris Iannetta’s 11th inning homer gave the Mariners a win and a three-game sweep over Tampa Bay.
