Stephen Strasburg isn’t giving second chances. Too bad teammates can’t stop providing them.
The Washington Nationals pitcher survived the first time through the Atlanta Braves lineup on Monday, using an inning-ending out at the plate and double play in the first two frames to remain scoreless. Strasburg relied on his upper 90s fastball and changeup.
And then the education of the rookie phenom really showed. Strasburg faced the minimum 12 batters over the next four innings thanks to a double play erasing the only hit. He punched out the side in the fifth when revealing his curve, overcoming a 3-0 count on Gregor Blanco and whiffing Eric Hinske on a 99 mph heater.
Oh, just how dangerous will Strasburg really be when learning the lineups?
Strasburg shook off Atlanta slapping opposite-field hits the first time around by striking out five straight at one point. While counterpart Tim Hudson surpassed 100 pitches in the sixth inning, Strasburg needed only 73.
National League-leading hitter Martin Prado, batting .396 at Turner Field, managed two groundouts to second and a strikeout. He wasn’t alone as Strasburg had more Ks than a Russian phone book, throwing seven.
Too bad the Nats can’t score or play defense and the bullpen doesn’t stop opponents. The Nats let Strasburg hit with two outs in the seventh and Roger Bernadina on third in a scoreless game. It was a textbook pinch-hitting situation, but manager Jim Riggleman figured Strasburg would keep Washington in the game longer than relievers after a meltdown in Baltimore where the Nats were swept. Strasburg grounded out, extending the Nats scoreless streak with its star on the mound to 14 innings.
Strasburg should have been gone for the seventh. He soon would be thanks to teammates’ mistakes. Strasburg walked the leadoff hitter and allowed a single, the first time the ball left the infield since Chipper Jones opened the fourth with a single. Shortstop Ian Desmond then booted a double play ball on a night when both sides seemed bedeviled by the moist dirt. Atlanta used a sacrifice fly and a single for a 2-0 lead to chase Strasburg.
Strasburg should have been out of the inning. Instead, he was out of luck for the third straight game despite another fine outing. Strasburg allowed six hits and three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, but the box score lied. It was another stellar outing betrayed by the Nats ongoing woes.
The Nats are looking like the last two seasons and even their newest star can’t stop it. Indeed, they’re taking him down with them.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
