Strasburg on his improved curveball and his concern with tipping pitches
In 20 starts in the major leagues, Monday’s crowd of 16,245 at Nationals Park was the smallest gathering Stephen Strasburg has pitched in front of. The 23-year-old, however, got plenty of support from his teammates who delivered 13 hits in a 6-3 victory over Houston.
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Nats manager Davey Johnson said Strasburg was on a tighter pitch count than his last outing in which he threw 108 in a 4-0 victory over the Mets. It was the most in one outing for Strasburg in his major league career.
So when Strasburg’s turn to bat came in the bottom of the sixth in a 2-2 game, Johnson sent Roger Bernadina to pinch hit. Strasburg’s night was done after 92 pitches.
“He knows I want to stay out there as long as I possibly can,” Strasburg said.
But Bernadina walked to keep the inning alive and Steve Lombardozzi followed with a two-run double and Ryan Zimmerman with a two-run single.
“It was huge. All night we came up with some big hits,” Strasburg said. “Obviously Lombo had a big night, so it was fun to watch.”
Strasburg hit 98 on the radar gun three times in the first inning. But his biting curveball was especially impressive. Strasburg said he found something in the bullpen in New York. He was overthrowing his curve and made an adjustment.
“It’s getting better. It’s getting closer to what it was in college, to not only throw it for a strike, but to be able to throw it for a swing-and-miss pitch,” Strasburg said. “I’m not expecting it to be perfect every single day, but it’s all about making adjustments. I think I have a much better idea of what I need to do to correct it when it isn’t right.”
After cruising through five innings, allowing three harmless singles, Strasburg surrendered three singles and a walk in the sixth, allowing the Astros to tie it on a two-out single by Chris Johnson. Strasburg mentioned to Johnson that he thought he might be tipping pitches.
“When they know what’s coming, they obviously look very comfortable. It’s something I have to look at on film,” Strasburg said. “It was more when guys were getting in scoring position and I felt like they were definitely seeing more pitches differently … It was happening when guys were on second base.”
Johnson didn’t sound concerned about Strasburg tipping pitches.
“I think they were just guessing,” Johnson said.
Note: The previous smallest crowd to see Strasburg pitch was 21,695 in his next-to-last start in 2010 – at home on a Sunday afternoon in August against Arizona.
