Stephen Strasburg made his third start of the season for the Harrisburg senators today against the Reading Phillies at MetroBank Stadium in Harrisburg.
He threw five innings, allowing no runs. He gave up one hit, a soft liner to center that CF Brad Coon didn't pick up very well off the bat. He walked one batter, and promptly erased him on a double play.
Strasburg struck out six in his appearance, including three called third strikes.
His four-seam fastball hit 98, the two-seam was 94-95. His change-up was around 89, and the curveball was 78-79.
Unofficially, he threw a total of 66 pitches, 47 of which were strikes. He coaxed five ground ball outs and three fly ball outs.
He was 0-2 at the plate, bunting into a fielder's choice with two runners on in the second inning, and grounding to short with a man on second in the fourth. The runner would eventually score.
Strasburg left the game in position to win, with a 1-0 lead.
The Nationals have a whole squad of people from the scouting department there to watch him pitch, and they no doubt are being extra-cautious with him. There has been a light mist falling all morning in Harrisburg, and it's a good bet they didn't want him to have to bat again and take any chances they didn't have to.
Mission accomplished for start No. 3.
I'm not sure that radar gun is accurate. 78-79 sounds too slow for his curve. I wonder if other radar guns picked up all these numbers a couple mph higher?
Just a thought.
we could only go by what the stadium gun said. I'm sure the Nats had their own guns going too.