On May 6th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1998 when Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Kerry Wood tied the major league record for strikeouts in a single game. In only his fifth career start, the 20-year-old phenom struck out 20 Houston Astros batters in a dominant 2-0 victory at Wrigley Field.
Wood's performance was nothing short of extraordinary. He allowed only one hit, a single to Ricky Gutierrez in the third inning, and issued no walks. His 20 strikeouts matched the record set by Roger Clemens, who had achieved the feat twice before (in 1986 and 1996).
The young right-hander's fastball consistently hit 100 mph, and his devastating curveball left the Astros' batters helpless. Wood struck out the first five batters he faced and never looked back. He fanned the side in the 1st, 5th, 7th, and 8th innings, showcasing his overpowering stuff.
The Wrigley Field crowd of 15,758 was electric, cheering loudly with every strikeout. When Wood struck out Bill Spiers for the final out, the fans erupted in a deafening roar, knowing they had witnessed a performance for the ages.
Wood's masterpiece is considered one of the greatest single-game pitching performances in baseball history. It earned him the nickname "Kid K" and set the stage for a promising career, although injuries would later derail his path to superstardom.
Nevertheless, Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game on May 6, 1998, remains etched in the annals of sports history as a testament to his incredible talent and the heights of pitching dominance in America's national pastime.
