Cubs’ Rookie Wood Makes (20) Fans of Astros

Kerry Wood said it was like playing catch. And in only the fifth start of his major league career, he was all but unhittable Wednesday.

“I couldn’t imagine ever doing this, to tell you the truth,” Wood said after tying the major league record with 20 strikeouts, pitching a one-hitter to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Houston Astros, 2-0.

“It’s going to be special to strike out that many, regardless of who has done it,” he said. “It hasn’t settled in, and I’m still in awe a little bit.”

Wood (3-2), who will turn 21 on June 16, tied the nine-inning record set by Roger Clemens against Seattle on April 29, 1986, and matched by Clemens against Detroit on Sept. 18, 1996. Washington’s Tom Cheney struck out 21 against Baltimore in a 16-inning game in 1962.

The only hit Wood gave up was a third-inning single off third baseman Kevin Orie’s glove by Ricky Gutierrez.

“He deserved it. I’ll go up there and tell them to give me an error,” said Orie, who stretched for the ball but didn’t dive.

With the fans chanting “Kerry, Kerry” in the last inning, Wood fanned pinch-hitter Billy Spiers on a 1-2 pitch leading off for his seventh consecutive strikeout. Craig Biggio then grounded to shortstop, and Wood tied the record by striking out Derek Bell on a 1-2 pitch.

“I had no idea how many I had going into the last three innings. After the first inning, I knew I had three and I lost track after that,” Wood said, citing his slider as his main strikeout pitch.

“I wasn’t really worried about the strikeouts, I knew it was getting up there. It was just one of those days where everything you throw is crossing the plate. It just felt like I was playing catch.”

Wood said he didn’t have good stuff warming up. And he was working with catcher Sandy Martinez for the first time, making his performance even more remarkable.

“We were on the same page. Every sign he put down I already had the grip in my glove,” Wood said. “It felt like we could have gone out there with no signals.”

Wood struck out the side in the first, fifth, seventh and eighth innings, and fanned two each in the second, fourth and ninth, and one in the third and sixth.

In his first complete game in the majors, Wood struck out the Astros’ 3-4-5 hitters--Jeff Bagwell, Jack Howell and Moises Alou--in all three of their at-bats. He walked none but hit Biggio with a pitch. He was clocked as high as 100 mph.

“He reminded me of the first time I saw [Nolan] Ryan,” Houston Manager Larry Dierker said. “By the time the ball left his hand, it was in the mitt. Only that time, Ryan was wild. This kid wasn’t wild.”

Wood broke the National League record of 19 strikeouts, held by Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver and David Cone. Wood, who struck out every batter at least once, broke the rookie record of 18, set by Montreal’s Bill Gullickson against the Cubs on Sept. 10, 1980.

“It’s the best game I’ve ever seen pitched. I’m just proud to have been there to watch it,” Cub Manager Jim Riggleman said.

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The batters by inning that Chicago Cub pitcher Kerry Wood faced in his major-league record tying 20-strikeout game against the Houston Astros:

* FIRST: Craig Biggio struck out swinging (1); Derek Bell struck out swinging (2); Jeff Bagwell struck out looking (3).

* SECOND: Jack Howell struck out swinging (4); Moises Alou struck out swinging (5); Dave Clark flied out to center.

* THIRD: Ricky Gutierrez reached on infield single to third; Brad Ausmus struck out swinging (6); Shane Reynolds sacrificed Gutierrez to second; Gutierrez to third on a balk; Biggio grounded out to shortstop.

* FOURTH: Bell flied out to right; Bagwell struck out looking (7); Howell struck out looking (8).

* FIFTH: Alou struck out looking (9); Clark struck out looking (10); Gutierrez struck out looking (11).

* SIXTH: Ausmus grounded out to second; Reynolds struck out looking (12); Biggio hit by pitch; Bell fouled out to first.

* SEVENTH: Bagwell struck out swinging (13); Howell struck out swinging (14); Alou struck out swinging (15).

* EIGHTH: Clark struck out swinging (16); Gutierrez struck out swinging (17); Ausmus struck out looking (18).

* NINTH: Bill Spiers, hitting for Reynolds, struck out swinging (19); Biggio grounded out to shortstop; Bell struck out swinging (20).