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Pitching against his former team, Scherzer had a chance to
strike out the final batter and stand alone in the record books
but James McCann grounded out for the last at-bat of the game.
Scherzer’s incredible performance ties him with Roger Clemens,
who reached the 20-strikeout mark twice, along with Randy
Johnson and Kerry wood.
"I think it was about the eighth inning when I (struck) out
somebody and they said it was 18, that was the first time I had
the number," Scherzer told reporters. "So I knew I had a shot at
going out for ninth for 20."
Scherzer (4-2) did not walk a batter on yet another magical
night for the Washington ace.
Last season, Scherzer fired off two no-hitters to become just
the sixth pitcher in Major League history to accomplish that.
Scherzer played for Detroit from 2010 to 2014, winning the Cy
Young Award in 2013, before signing with the Nationals and he
came back to haunt the Tigers on Wednesday.
"Tonight, facing my former team, it was an emotional game,"
Scherzer said. "I have so much respect for how they play the
game and compete. To have a game like that against that caliber
of hitters really puts a feather in my cap."
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Amlan
Chakraborty)
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