Pitcher struggles a bit in second start of year It was not a vintage performance by Stephen Strasburg. But that is not really what the Nationals were expecting anyway in just his second major league start since major elbow surgery Sept. 3, 2010.
Each inning this month is simply another step toward 2012, when Washington believes Strasburg will be at full strength 18 months after Tommy John surgery. On Sunday, the 23-year-old was far less efficient than in his first start back. But Strasburg still allowed the Houston Astros just one run in three innings of work and let his teammates’ bats do the rest in an easy 8-2 victory.
Ian Desmond, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Zimmerman hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs during a four-run third inning for the Nats. Rookie Chris Marrero added an RBI sacrifice fly and a run-scoring double. Laynce Nix and Desmond had RBI base hits in the seventh.
| Nationals notes |
| » Catcher Wilson Ramos was hit in the face with a pitch in the eighth inning by Astros reliever Lance Pendleton. Luckily, the ball just grazed Ramos’ left cheek, leaving some swelling but no serious damage. |
| » The last time Washington hit three home runs in a row also came against Houston — July 11, 2009, when Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Adam Dunn accomplished that feat. |
| » It was rookie hazing day for the Nats, who forced all rookies — and even established young players like Jordan Zimmermann and Craig Stammen — to dress up like Smurfs for the train ride to New York. |
Washington improved to 67-77 and took its first series victory since Aug. 19-21 against Philadelphia. For Strasburg, the hook came a little sooner than he had wanted. Nats manager Davey Johnson had him on a 70-pitch limit and didn’t want Strasburg to start the fourth and then come out in the middle of that frame. It didn’t help that he had already labored through a 31-pitch first inning on a warm day in the District.
“I was able to make the adjustments I needed those last two innings,” Strasburg said about retiring six of the last seven Houston batters he faced, allowing only a bloop single to right field. “If I wasn’t on a pitch count it would have been nice to go out there and pitch longer in the game. But that’s how it’s going to be sometimes. You’re not going to feel perfect every time.”
Marrero is making the most of his September call-up. Washington’s first-round draft pick in 2006 took five years to reach the big leagues. But the first baseman is 15-for-49 now (.306 batting average) after a two-hit day. He has three extra-base hits in his last five games.
“It’s different pitchers [than Triple-A]. They’ve got a lot of movement here,” Marrero said. “But I’m going out there and doing all my work. When game time comes, I feel prepared, focused and ready.”
After Strasburg left, reliever Tom Gorzelanny (3-6) tossed three scoreless innings to keep Washington in front. By the time he took the mound Washington was up 5-1. Gorzelanny allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out three batters. Sean Burnett, Henry Rodriguez and Doug Slaten each handled an inning to end it. The Astros added one run in the ninth on a throwing error by Zimmerman at third base.
“Everybody’s different. But I think [Strasburg’s] around that third or fourth [start] in spring training before you come north,” Johnson said about Strasburg’s short leash early in his return. “[But] the pitch count is not what I’m concerned about. It’s how many stressful pitches that matters.”
