List of Major League Baseball single-game strikeout leaders

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In baseball, a strikeout occurs when a pitcher throws three strikes to a batter during his time at bat.[1] Only three pitchers have struck out 20 batters in a single game. Most recent was Max Scherzer, Roger Clemens and then rookie Kerry Wood. Twenty different pitchers have struck out at least 18 batters in a single nine-inning Major League Baseball (MLB) game,[a] the most recent being Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals on May 11, 2016.[4] Four players have accomplished the feat more than once in their career; no player has ever struck out more than 20 batters in a nine-inning game. Charlie Sweeney was the first player to strike out 18 batters in a single game, doing so for the Providence Grays against the Boston Beaneaters on June 7, 1884.[5] In spite of this, Bob Feller is viewed as the first pitcher to accomplish the feat,[6][7] since his then-record 18 strikeouts was the first to occur during the 20th century and the live-ball era.[8]

Roger Clemens, wearing a navy blue baseball cap with an interlocking "NY" and grey baseball jersey with "NEW YORK" on the chest prepares to deliver a pitch.
Roger Clemens
Randy Johnson in a gray baseball uniform with "ARIZONA" on the chest, a red baseball cap, and a tan baseball glove on his right hand with "51" on its side pitches a baseball with his left hand.
Randy Johnson
Clemens and Johnson are the only MLB pitchers to strike out 18 or more batters in a nine-inning game on three separate occasions.

Out of the 20 pitchers who have accomplished the feat, 15 were right-handed and five pitched left-handed. Five of these players have played for only one major league team. Six pitchers—Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Max Scherzer—are also members of the 3,000 strikeout club. Sweeney has the fewest career strikeouts in the group with 505, while Nolan Ryan, with 5,714, struck out more batters than any other pitcher in major league history.[9] Bill Gullickson and Kerry Wood are the only rookies to have achieved the feat.[10][11] Tom Seaver concluded his milestone game by striking out the final ten batters he faced, setting a new major league record for most consecutive strikeouts.[12][13][14]

Of the eleven players eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame who have struck out 18 batters in a game, six have been elected; all six were elected on the first ballot.[15] Players are eligible for the Hall of Fame if they have played in at least 10 major league seasons and have either been retired for five seasons or deceased for at least six months.[16]

Players

Bob Feller was the first player to achieve 18 strikeouts in a game during the 20th century.
A smiling man in a white baseball jersey and dark baseball cap with an interlocked white "LA" on the front.
Sandy Koufax was the first pitcher to achieve multiple games with 18 strikeouts, recording two in his career.
A man sporting a goatee and wearing a dark blue baseball cap with "C" in the middle, a pinstriped jersey and black Nike cleats delivers a pitch.
Kerry Wood tied Roger Clemens' major league record of 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game on May 6, 1998.
A man in white pants and a navy blue baseball jersey with "Nationals" written across the front throws a pitch.
Max Scherzer tied Kerry Wood and Roger Clemens' major league record of 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game in 2016.
More information Pitcher, Date ...
Key
Pitcher Name of the pitcher
Date Date of the game
Team The pitcher's team
Opposing team The team against whom the pitcher struck out 18 players
Score Final score of the game, with the pitcher's team score listed first
Strikeouts Number of strikeouts the pitcher recorded
Career Ks Career strikeouts
† Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
* Player is active
‡ Indicates the player's team lost the game
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MLB pitchers with 18 strikeouts in a nine-inning game

More information Pitcher, Date ...
MLB pitchers with 18 strikeouts in a nine-inning game (sorted by number of strikeouts, then chronologically)
Pitcher Date Team Opposing team Score Strikeouts Career Ks Refs
Max Scherzer* May 11, 2016Washington NationalsDetroit Tigers3–2203,407[17][4]
Kerry Wood May 6, 1998Chicago CubsHouston Astros2–01,582[11][18]
Roger Clemens September 18, 1996Boston Red SoxDetroit Tigers4–04,672[19][20]
April 29, 1986Seattle Mariners3–14,672[20][21]
Randy Johnson† August 8, 1997Seattle MarinersChicago White Sox5–0194,875[22][23]
June 24, 1997Oakland Athletics1–4‡4,875[23][24]
David Cone October 6, 1991New York MetsPhiladelphia Phillies7–02,668[25][26]
Nolan Ryan† August 12, 1974California AngelsBoston Red Sox4–25,714[27][28]
Tom Seaver† April 22, 1970New York MetsSan Diego Padres2–13,640[29][14]
Steve Carlton† September 15, 1969St. Louis CardinalsNew York Mets3–4‡4,136[30][31]
Hugh Daily July 7, 1884Chicago BrownsBoston Reds10–4846[32][33]
Charlie Sweeney June 7, 1884Providence GraysBoston Beaneaters2–1505[34][35]
Corey Kluber May 13, 2015Cleveland IndiansSt. Louis Cardinals2–0181,725[36][37]
Ben Sheets May 16, 2004Milwaukee BrewersAtlanta Braves4–11,325[38][39]
Roger Clemens August 25, 1998Toronto Blue JaysKansas City Royals3–04,672[20][40]
Randy Johnson† September 27, 1992Seattle MarinersTexas Rangers2–3‡4,875[23][41]
Ramón Martínez June 4, 1990Los Angeles DodgersAtlanta Braves6–01,427[42][43]
Bill Gullickson September 10, 1980Montreal ExposChicago Cubs4–21,279[10][44]
Ron Guidry June 17, 1978New York YankeesCalifornia Angels4–01,778[45][46]
Nolan Ryan† September 10, 1976California AngelsChicago White Sox3–25,714[28][47]
Don Wilson July 14, 1968Houston AstrosCincinnati Reds6–11,283[48][49]
Sandy Koufax† April 24, 1962Los Angeles DodgersChicago Cubs10–22,396[50][51]
August 31, 1959San Francisco Giants5–22,396[51][52]
Bob Feller† October 2, 1938Cleveland IndiansDetroit Tigers1–4‡2,581[53][54]
Henry Porter October 3, 1884Milwaukee BrewersBoston Reds4–5‡659[55][56]
Dupee Shaw July 19, 1884Boston RedsSt. Louis Maroons0–1‡950[57][58]
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18 strikeouts in extra-inning games

A man in a white baseball jersey with "ASTROS" on the chest and orange and yellow stripes on his shoulders pitches a baseball with his right hand.
Nolan Ryan amassed 18 or more strikeouts in a nine-inning game twice, as well as 19 strikeouts in extra-inning games three times.

Eight different pitchers have struck out at least 18 batters in an extra-inning Major League Baseball (MLB) game to date. Only Nolan Ryan accomplished the feat more than once in his career and no player has ever struck out more than 21 batters in a game.

The following list is kept separate from the above list of pitchers who have struck out 18 or more batters in a nine-inning game. This is due to the differing number of innings pitched during an extra-inning game, the lack of a definitive endpoint to the game that would otherwise allow for a fair comparison to be made, and the advantage of having more opportunities to strike out players during an extra-inning game as opposed to one lasting nine innings.

More information IP ...
Key
IP Innings pitched by the pitcher in the game
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More information Pitcher, Date ...
MLB pitchers with 18 strikeouts in an extra-inning game
Pitcher Date Team Opposing team Score Strikeouts IP Career Ks Refs
Tom Cheney September 12, 1962Washington SenatorsBaltimore Orioles2–12116345[59][60]
Randy Johnson† May 8, 2001Arizona DiamondbacksCincinnati Reds4–3209[b]4,875[23][61]
Luis Tiant July 3, 1968Cleveland IndiansMinnesota Twins1–019102,416[62][63]
Nolan Ryan† June 14, 1974California AngelsBoston Red Sox4–3135,714[28][64]
August 20, 1974Detroit Tigers0–1‡115,714[28][65]
June 8, 1977Toronto Blue Jays2–1105,714[28][66]
Jack Coombs September 1, 1906Philadelphia AthleticsBoston Americans4-118241,052[67]
Warren Spahn† June 14, 1952Boston BravesChicago Cubs1–3‡152,583[68][69]
Chris Short October 2, 1965Philadelphia PhilliesNew York Mets0–0151,629[70][71]
Jim Maloney June 14, 1965Cincinnati RedsNew York Mets0–1‡111,605[72][73]
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    18 strikeouts is utilized as the benchmark as that is normally two-thirds of a nine-inning game's 27 outs (while uncommon, a pitcher can record a strikeout that does not result in an out due to the uncaught third strike rule).[2][3]
  2. [b]
    Although the game went into extra innings (11 total), Johnson was relieved by Byung-hyun Kim after nine innings.[61]

References

External links

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