Strasburg’s Satisfying, Sharp, Sizzling Start

Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 batters in his Nationals’ debut and Washington rolled to a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh. The 21 year old right handed pitcher pounced on the Pirates through seven frames to earn his first major league victory. Strasburg lived up to, and possibly exceeded his highly anticipated debut Tuesday at Nationals Park in Washington. The rookie allowed two runs and didn’t issue a walk in a masterpiece on the mound. Strasburg piled up the most strikeouts in a big league debut since Houston’s J.R. Richard fanned 15 in 1971. The novice Washington hurler was pulled for a pinch hitter in the seventh but not before he struck out every Pittsburgh player in the lineup. He fanned the final seven batters he faced in a remarkable finish to an extraordinary debut.
Strasburg exited with a 4-2 lead after throwing just 94 pitches. The Nationals were the first team on board Tuesday when Ryan Zimmerman zipped a Jeff Karstens offering into the seats for a 1-0 advantage. The Bucs’ 27 year old flamethrower yielded nine hits and four runs through five innings and took the loss. Zimmerman’s homerun was the 12th belted this season off the bat of the talented third baseman. He went 3-for-4 on the night and knocked home his 33rd run of the year. Pittsburgh answered with a two-run fourth off Strasburg. The first pick in last year’s draft fanned six of the first nine Pirates he faced, but Delwyn Young got the better of his 1-0 changeup by stroking it over the fence. Young’s tag followed a pair of Pirate singles. Strasburg settled down following the Young blast and the offense responded with a three-run sixth inning. Adam Dunn led the charge with a longball to give the home team a 3-2 lead before left fielder, Josh Willingham sent Karstens to the bench with the third Washington homerun. Thirty-one year old Willingham’s solo shot to left gave the Nationals a two run cushion. Willingham and Dunn have 11 homeruns apiece this season.
Strasburg sizzled into the seventh and seemed to improve as the game went on. His fastball sat around 99 mph most of the evening and his devastating curve dazzled. The phenom struck out the side in his last inning and left to the sold out crowd’s standing ovation. He also tied Detroit’s Max Scherzer for the most strikeouts in a game this season. Strasburg was lifted for Tyler Clippard, who struck out two Bucs in an inning of work. Matt Capps earned his 19th save with a hitless ninth after the Nationals registered another tally in the bottom of the eighth. Zimmerman scored off Javier Lopez on a Pudge Rodriguez double play grounder to give Washington a 5-2 edge. Fans in the D.C. area left Tuesday’s game with more than a victory, however. They left with a sense of organizational pride and expectation. The Nationals may have found the face of their franchise in young Stephen Strasburg.

Parting Points: Song of the day- Jewel’s “Satisfied”. Her new album sounds great.

The Lakers are up 2-1 after grabbing the all-important Game 3 in Boston.

Beautiful walk-off win for the New York Mets. Ike Davis seems to be the real deal. The Mets have won nine straight games at home.