Tigers unable to solve former teammate Max Scherzer

1:16 AM ET

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Detroit Tigers had their best pitcher on the mound, their former Triple Crown winner back in the lineup and their scuffling star breaking through a protracted slump. Even still, they could not solve Washington Nationals starter Max Scherzer.

What was it like facing their former teammate on Wednesday?

“It was like a horror film,” outfielder J.D. Martinez said.

The former Tigers pitcher was absolutely blistering in his dominance of his former team, as he tied the major league record with 20 strikeouts in a complete-game performance in the Nationals’ 3-2 win. Scherzer became only the fourth pitcher in league history to strike out 20 in nine innings. He joined the ranks of Randy Johnson, Kerry Wood and Roger Clemens, who accomplished the feat twice.

Miguel Cabrera, the reigning American League batting champion, struck out three times in four at-bats against Scherzer. It was unlike anything he had witnessed before.

“He was just different. He got 20 strikeouts. That’s special. How many times they do that in the big leagues? Five? How many years they been playing this game?” a visibly frustrated Cabrera asked. “It was just special. I’ve never seen him throw the ball like that.”

As stellar as Jordan Zimmermann has been for the Tigers this season — he was sharp again in his seventh start of the season — he was no match for the brilliance of his old teammate.

J.D. Martinez struck out three times against Max Scherzer, who struck out a major league record-tying 20 …

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