In 18.1 scoreless innings pitched over three starts for the Nats' Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs, the Washington Nationals' '09 no.1 overall pick, Stephen Strasburg, has allowed just 4 hits and 4 walks while recording 22 K's and holding opponents to a .068 BAA. The Rochester Red Wings are responsible for three of the hits and two of the walks Strasburg's surrendered, as they gave the 21-year-old right-handed starter his toughest test so far at Triple-A, taking advantage of some shaky fielding on the Chiefs' part to at least make it appear as if they might actually push a run across the plate against the future Nats' ace.
After retiring the side in order in the first, a leadoff walk and an error by Chiefs' shortstop Pedro Lopez in the second are erased by a DP grounder and a swinging K on a curve from Major League veteran Jacques Jones. Another error by Lopez in the first at bat of the third is erased by a DP grounder in the next AB, then a two-out walk and the first hit of the game off Strasburg put runners on first and third with two down before Strasburg gets Red Wings' outfielder Brian Dinkelman looking at a 1-2 curve to end the inning, stranding two. A leadoff single in the fourth is stranded three batters later, a one-out single in the fifth interrupts Strasburg striking out the side, one backwards, two swinging, and after two more K's separated by a flyout to left, Strasburg's got 6.0 scoreless with the Chiefs ahead 5-0 after six.
A called strike three on his 92nd pitch ends Strasburg's night. Nats' lefty Jesse English throws 2.1 scoreless and Chiefs' closer Joel Peralta's 10th save secures Strasburg's third win. 92 pitches, 60 strikes, 7 groundouts, 2 fly ball outs and 9 K's from 24 batters faced. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayoB3) heaps praise on Strasburg via Twitter...
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayoB3) heaps praise on Strasburg via Twitter...
"In 18.1 Triple-A outings, Stephen Strasburg has now allowed 4 hits for a .068 batting average against."
"Overall, Strasburg's BAA is .123 as a professional."
"Strasburg's overall WHIP: 0.67. Nearly 5/1 K/BB ratio. 10.9 K/9. And a 2.60 Groundout to Airout ratio. That's just silly."
• Strasburg Notes from @NatsTownNews On Twitter:
"#Strasburg final line at Rochester - 6.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, career-high 9 SO. 92 pitches, 60 strikes. (65.2% strikes). #Nats"
"#Strasburg’s ERA for the season (Double-A combined with Triple-A) is 0.89 (4 ER/40.1 IP). #Nats"
"#Strasburg strikeout-to-walk ratio for 2010 is 4.9/1 (49 SO, 10 BB). #Nats."
• Strasburg's Stats:
• '09 SDSU Stats - (13-1), 1.32 ERA, 15 GS, 2 CG, 109.0 IP, 59 H, 16 ER, 19 BB (1.57 BB/9), 195 K's (16.1K/9).
• AFL Stats - (4-1), 4.26 ERA, 5 GS, 19.0 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 23 K's, 1.16 WHIP.
• ST 2010 - (1-0), 2.00 ERA, 3 GS, 9.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 12 K's.
• '10 - (Final Double-A Harrisburg) - (3-1), 5 GS, 22.0 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 4 ER, 6 BB (2.45 BB/9), 27 K's (11.05 K/9), 1.64 ERA, 0.86 WHIP. WHIP.
- Triple-A Syracuse - (3-0), 3 GS, 18.1 IP, 4 H, 4 BB (1.96 BB/9), 22 K's (10.80 K/9), .068 BAA.