On Saturday, the Washington Nationals defeated the rival Philadelphia Phillies, 8-1. However, the news of night didn’t so much center around the result despite a strong offensive night from his teammates, but around prized rookie Stephen Strasburg.
For the second time this season, Strasburg found himself injured on the mound and was pulled from the game in the fifth inning.
The fateful moment came as Strasburg threw a pitch to Philadelphia’s Dominic Brown (which was called a ball). Moments later, he was writhing in pain.
Strasburg shook his right hand and almost immediately, manager Jim Riggleman, pitching coach Steve McCatty -- along with trainer Lee Kuntz -- ran to the mound to took a look at him. Whether Strasburg was healthy enough to continue his outing or otherwise (he didn’t look happy to have been trotted off the mound) – the Nationals were not going to risk finding out.
Considering the stature of the young pitcher, the team made a prudent and perhaps wise decision to lift him from the game. He was replaced by pitcher Craig Stammen.
When all was said and done, Strasburg lasted only 4 1/3 innings and gave up an earned run. He threw 56 pitches (38 of which were strikes) and struck out six. Before departing the game, Strasburg had the Phillies fooled all night and was seemingly in total control.
After Saturday’s contest, Nationals’ general manager Mike Rizzo announced that Strasburg would head back to Washington D.C. on Sunday to have his arm looked at with an MRI. As well, Rizzo informed the media that Strasburg’s injury was to the flexor tendon of his right forearm.
Now, the eyes of NatsTown and the team brass await the news on Straburg’s latest setback. Everyone is obviously hoping that the worst case scenario does not come to pass and that the phenom will return to the mound, sooner rather than later.
Despite Strasburg’s injury, the Nationals pulled out an easy victory against the Phillies. Reliever Doug Slaten (3-1) earned the win, throwing 1 2/3 innings in relief.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia suffered a rough night at the hands of starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick (8-6). He took the loss and went 5 2/3 shaky innings, giving up five runs on nine hits.
The Nationals jumped on the Phillies early and never looked back. They got things going as they managed to get the bases loaded off the Phillies’ Kendrick and he walked in Adam Kennedy to give them a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Ivan Rodriguez plated in two runs to give Washington an early 3-0 lead.
They continued their offensive barrage in the third inning as Adam Kennedy drove in Ryan Zimmerman with an RBI-single. Washington took a 5-0 lead as Stephen Strasburg drove in Roger Bernadina with a groundout as he motored down the line to first to avoid a double play
Philadelphia’s only run on the night came via a RBI groundout from Ryan Howard (who returned from the disabled list on Saturday).
Washington made the score 8-0 in the ninth inning as Bernadina hit a three run homer to right field – his 8th of the season.
The Nationals are now 53-70 on the season.
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