Kerry Wood's 20-Strikeout Game

On May 6, 1998, twenty-year-old Chicago Cubs rookie Kerry Wood struck out 20 Houston Astros in a 2–0 win, allowing only one hit and no walks. It tied the modern major league record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game, held by Roger Clemens, who had done it twice.

Wood was making just his fifth career start. The Astros lineup he faced included former MVP Jeff Bagwell, who struck out three times. Wood's only baserunner reached on an infield chopper that was briefly scored an error before an official scorer's decision.

Wood's rookie season ended with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery the following year, part of an injury-shortened career, but the 20-strikeout game remains one of the most dominant single-game pitching performances in baseball history.