MLB's Scherzer just became 5th pitcher ever to throw 2 immaculate innings
At age 33, Washington Nationals starter Max Scherzer might just be the best pitcher in baseball.
Yes, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw is a once-in-a-generation talent, and he has the hardware (three Cy Young Awards) to prove it. But injuries have hurt Kershaw over the past few years (though he’s still pitched exceedingly well), while Scherzer has been consistently dominant.
Like Kershaw, Scherzer has won three Cy Young Awards. His first came in 2013 with the Tigers, while his second two have come in 2016 and 2017 with the Nationals.
And this year, Scherzer is doing it again, with a sterling 1.95 earned run average, 10 wins (versus only one loss) and an other-worldly 133 strikeouts in 87-and-two-thirds innings pitched (compared to 19 walks).
So it should have come as no surprise that Scherzer made history in his start Tuesday against the Rays.
His final stat line was impressive enough (eight innings pitched, two runs, 13 strikeouts, no walks), but it was what he did in the sixth inning that really had people talking.
Scherzer pitched an immaculate inning, meaning he struck out the side on just nine pitches. His victims were Rays batters Johnny Field, Christian Arroyo and Daniel Robertson, none of whom looked like they knew what they were doing at the plate.
Nine pitches, nine strikes.
That’s immaculate stuff from @Max_Scherzer. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/92N71YjTbY
— MLB (@MLB) June 6, 2018
It was the second time a pitcher has pitched an immaculate inning this year (the Orioles’ Kevin Gausman did it in April). Moreover, Scherzer, who also accomplished the feat last year, became just the fifth pitcher ever to do it twice in his career.
“I honestly didn’t know it happened,” Scherzer said of his immaculate inning. “Then I walked off the field and I was like, wait a second, I think that was it. So yeah, that’s cool.”
The other pitchers to throw more than one immaculate inning? Hall of Famers Lefty Grove, Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson, per ESPN.
Max Scherzer's 6th inning Tuesday
9 pitches
9 strikes
3 strikeoutsIt's the 2nd time this season a pitcher has thrown 9 pitches, all for strikes, in a single inning (Kevin Gausman on April 23) and it's the 2nd time Scherzer has done it in his career pic.twitter.com/EG0Ikz0YT7
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 6, 2018
“Awesome,” Scherzer said when told about the other pitchers who pulled off the feat twice. “It’s just one of those things, it just happened. Just executing pitches. It’s one of those things where, hey, it happened. That’s more to the preparation than anything, and knowing what Seve (catcher Pedro Severino) wanted behind the plate.”
In addition to his immaculate inning, Scherzer threw 81 of his 99 pitches for strikes (no starter has recorded a higher strike percentage this season). Of the 28 batters he faced, he threw a first-pitch strike to 25 of them.
“I mean, that’s pretty much as good as it gets,” Nationals manager Davey Martinez said of his star pitcher. “He was awesome tonight.”
“He’s the best,” Martinez told The Washington Post. “He really is.”
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