MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – INSIDE PITCH
Stephen Strasburg is human after all.
After allowing a total of one run in his first two starts, then cruising through five shutout innings to start Monday’s game against the Astros, Strasburg finally faced his first real jam of the season.
He gave up two runs in six innings but still emerged the victor in Washington’s 6-3 win.
The game started off very well for Strasburg, who was enjoying his best curveball of the season.
“I felt like I made an adjustment in New York with it (last week),” Strasburg said. “I was warming up in the bullpen, and it wasn’t really working. I felt like I was overthrowing it a little too much. I wanted to go out there and just trust it. It worked pretty well.”
Things weren’t working at the start of the sixth inning, however. Houston got back-to-back singles from Jordan Schafer and Jed Lowrie, and Strasburg then issued his only walk of the night to J.D. Martinez to load the bases with no outs.
Astros cleanup hitter Carlos Lee flied out to center fielder Rick Ankiel, who fired a bullet to catcher Wilson Ramos. The throw was so good, Schafer took only a couple off the third base bag. After a strikeout of Travis Buck, Strasburg had a shot to get out of the inning.
However, a two-run single by Chris Johnson tied the game at 2-2. Strasburg got out of the inning by forcing a lineout from Jason Castro.
That turned out to be a huge out because Strasburg’s mates erupted for four runs in their half of the sixth. Strasburg ended up with his second win of young season, while the Nationals earned their sixth win in the last seven games.
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MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Chien-Ming Wang (strained left hamstring) will pitch a simulated game at the club’s spring training complex in Florida on Wednesday. If everything goes well, Wang would then make a few rehab appearances in the minor league system within the next few weeks.
–C Wilson Ramos crushed his first homer of the season, a solo shot off Houston RHP Kyle Weiland to deep right-center in the fourth. It was only the Nationals’ sixth homer in 11 games.
–2B Stephen Lombardozzi had a career-high four hits, going 4-for-5, including a double that scored two runs. In 18 previous games, Lombardozzi had two RBI. He was replacing Danny Espinosa, who was given the night off by manager Davey Johnson so he could have a “mental break”.
–LHP Sean Burnett finally got into a game Monday after warming up three times against the Reds over the weekend. Burnett allowed two hits with no runs in two-thirds of an inning, and he struck out two. It was his first work since Wednesday at the New York Mets. Burnett was the only Nationals reliever who hadn’t pitched since Friday.
–Manager Davey Johnson wanted to rest RHP Tyler Clippard and RHP Brad Lidge after both were used extensively in the four-game series against the Reds in which three games went into extra innings. His wish was granted.
BY THE NUMBERS: 93 — Pitches RHP Stephen Strasburg threw in six innings Monday. He threw 108 pitches on April 11 against the Mets, which was the highest pitch count of his first three starts of the season. He has thrown a total of 19 innings in three games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “That was a good one.” — CF Rick Ankiel, on his throw from mid-center that C Wilson Ramos caught on the fly. The throw prevented Jordan Schafer from coming home on a Carlos Lee flyout with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth.
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MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Chien-Ming Wang (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He is due to pitch a simulated game in extended spring training April 17, and he might begin a rehab assignment in late April.
–LF Michael Morse (strained right lat muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He made rehab appearances for Class AA Harrisburg and Class A Hagerstown in early April before he was shut down. He won’t resume his rehab before late May, and there is no timetable for his return.
–RHP Drew Storen (inflamed right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He underwent surgery April 11 to remove a bone chip, and he might not return until after the All-Star break.
–1B Chris Marrero (hamstring surgery in November 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list April 3.
–RHP Cole Kimball (right shoulder surgery in July 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list April 3. He is expected to miss at least the first half of the season.
ROTATION:
RHP Stephen Strasburg
LHP Gio Gonzalez
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
RHP Edwin Jackson
LHP Ross Detwiler
BULLPEN:
RHP Brad Lidge
RHP Henry Rodriguez
RHP Tyler Clippard
LHP Sean Burnett
LHP Tom Gorzelanny
LHP Ryan Mattheus
RHP Craig Stammen
CATCHERS:
Wilson Ramos
Jesus Flores
INFIELDERS:
1B Adam LaRoche
2B Danny Espinosa
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
INF/OF Steve Lombardozzi
INF Chad Tracy
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Mark DeRosa
CF Rick Ankiel
RF Jayson Werth
OF Roger Berandina
OF Xavier Nady
