who threw the most strikeouts in a game with <9 inning pitched

Corey Kluber and Randy Johnson are tied for fanning the most hitters in a game with fewer than 9.0 innings pitched, with 18 strikeouts.

Interpreted as:

Who threw the most strikeouts in a regular-season game with <9 inning pitched?

	NAME	SO	IP	DATE	TM		OPP	DEC	GS	ERA	CG	SHO	SV	H	ER	R	HR	BB	HBP	GF	IBB	TBF	WP
1	Corey Kluber C. Kluber	18	8.0	5/13/2015	CLE	vs	STL	W	1	0.00	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	26	0
2	Randy Johnson R. Johnson	18	8.0	9/27/1992	SEA	@	TEX		1	2.25	0	0	0	6	2	2	0	4	0	0	0	34	0
3	Chris Sale C. Sale	17	7.0	5/14/2019	BOS	vs	COL		1	2.57	0	0	0	3	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	24	0
4	Anibal Sanchez A. Sanchez	17	8.0	4/26/2013	DET	vs	ATL	W	1	0.00	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	29	0
5	Johan Santana J. Santana	17	8.0	8/19/2007	MIN	vs	TEX	W	1	0.00	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	26	0
6	Randy Johnson R. Johnson	17	8.0	6/30/1999	ARI	@	CIN	L	1	2.25	1	0	0	7	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	30	0
7	Lance Lynn L. Lynn	16	7.0	6/18/2023	CWS	@	SEA	L	1	3.86	0	0	0	4	3	3	0	2	0	0	0	27	0
8	Spencer Strider S. Strider	16	8.0	9/1/2022	ATL	vs	COL	W	1	0.00	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	27	0
9	James Paxton J. Paxton	16	7.0	5/2/2018	SEA	vs	OAK		1	0.00	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	27	0
10	Danny Duffy D. Duffy	16	8.0	8/1/2016	KCR	@	TBR	W	1	0.00	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	26	0
11	Michael Pineda M. Pineda	16	7.0	5/10/2015	NYY	vs	BAL	W	1	1.29	0	0	0	6	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	27	0
12	Cliff Lee C. Lee	16	7.0	5/6/2011	PHI	vs	ATL	L	1	3.86	0	0	0	9	3	3	0	1	0	0	0	31	0
13	Ricky Nolasco R. Nolasco	16	7.2	9/30/2009	FLA	@	ATL	W	1	0.00	0	0	0	4	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	29	0
14	Jake Peavy J. Peavy	16	7.0	4/25/2007	SDP	@	ARI		1	0.00	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	25	0
15	Jake Peavy J. Peavy	16	7.0	5/22/2006	SDP	vs	ATL	L	1	2.57	0	0	0	3	2	2	1	1	0	0	0	25	0
16	Mark Prior M. Prior	16	8.0	6/26/2003	CHC	vs	MIL		1	2.25	0	0	0	4	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	27	1
17	Randy Johnson R. Johnson	16	6.2	9/27/2001	ARI	vs	MIL	W	1	6.75	0	0	0	7	5	5	1	2	0	0	0	30	1
18	Randy Johnson R. Johnson	16	7.0	8/23/2001	ARI	@	PIT	L	1	5.14	0	0	0	5	4	4	1	2	0	0	0	28	0
19	Randy Johnson R. Johnson	16	7.0	7/18/2001	ARI	@	SDP	W	0	0.00	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	23	0
20	Pedro Martinez P. Martinez	16	8.0	4/8/2001	BOS	vs	TBD	W	1	0.00	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	29	0
21	Kerry Wood K. Wood	16	8.0	8/26/1998	CHC	@	CIN	W	1	1.13	0	0	0	3	1	2	1	3	0	0	0	30	0
22	Curt Schilling C. Schilling	16	8.0	9/1/1997	PHI	vs	NYY	W	1	1.13	0	0	0	7	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	31	0
23	Roger Clemens R. Clemens	16	8.0	7/12/1997	TOR	@	BOS	W	1	1.13	0	0	0	4	1	1	0	0	2	0	0	30	0
24	David Cone D. Cone	16	8.0	6/23/1997	NYY	@	DET	W	1	2.25	0	0	0	4	2	2	2	2	0	0	0	30	1
25	Hideo Nomo H. Nomo	16	8.0	6/14/1995	LAD	@	PIT	W	1	2.25	0	0	0	6	2	3	0	2	1	0	0	33	1