Stephen Strasburg strikes out 15 batters in Washington Nationals’ 3-0 win over the San Diego Padres

Stephen Strasburg set a new career high strikeout total (15) with one last strikeout in the top of the seventh, completing seven scoreless on the mound on 108 pitches this afternoon in a 3-0 win over the San Diego Padres.

Strasburg dominated the overmatched NL West club, limiting the Padres to three hits and one walk, and scoring a run himself on a play at the plate in the Nationals’ half of the third.

Michael A. Taylor gave Washington some breathing room with a two-out blast in the home half of the sixth and the Nats cruised to their second straight win.

Nationals now 30-18

HERE’S HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Ryan Zimmerman’s arm caused trouble again when he went for a force at second on a grounder to first (after a leadoff single) and threw wide of the bag, putting runners on first and second with no one out in the first vs Stephen Strasburg.

The Padres loaded the bases with two down, but Strasburg worked out of the jam in a long-ish 27-pitch frame.

• Washington took the lead in the third. Stephen Strasburg singled to center to start the inning, then took third base on a stand-up double to left by Jayson Werth before scoring on a one-hopper to first off Bryce Harper’s bat, sliding around a tag attempt and giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the second of three with the Padres in D.C.

• Strasburg struck out the side in the third, and seven in the first three innings, and after scoring to give himself a lead in the top of the inning, went back out and retired the Padres in order in a quick, twelve-pitch frame that gave him four scoreless and nine Ks on 73 pitches.

• Strasburg was up to 11 Ks and 12-straight Padres’ batters set down after a 1-2-3 fifth.

• Jayson Werth got picked off second base with two on and two out and Anthony Rendon at the plate in the fifth, leaving the Nationals 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and six left on base in a 1-0 game.

• Strasburg gave up two singles in the Padres’ sixth, but collected three Ks (his 12th, 13th, and 14th), and tied the career high he set in his 2010 debut against the Pirates.

• Anthony Rendon doubled to start the sixth and Michael A. Taylor stepped in one out later and hit a two-run blast to left-center on a 1-2 fastball from Clayton Richard that ended up in the Red Porch seats. Taylor’s 4th. 3-0 Nationals.

• Strasburg came back out for the seventh and retired the side in order in an eight-pitch frame, collecting his career-high 15th K along the way.

• Stephen Strasburg’s Line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 15 Ks, 108 P, 76 S, 5/1 GO/FO.

• Matt Albers retired the Padres in order in a 12-pitch eighth.

• Koda Glover came on for the save in the ninth and retired the Padres in order. 3-0 final.

NATIONALS PREGAME NOTES:

• San Diego held the advantage over Washington in the all-time series between the two teams heading into play today, with a 42-35 record against the Nationals after last night’s loss.
• In today’s Nationals-themed “Fun with Arbitrary End Points” segment: Washington trailed San Diego in the all-time series between the two teams, but the Nationals were 21-3 against the Padres... since 2012 before today’s game.
• Washington’s 29-18 record was the third-best mark in the National League heading into this afternoon’s game, behind only the Arizona D-Backs (31-19) and Colorado Rockies (32-18).
• Going into play today, Washington’s offense lead the majors in runs scored (268), home runs (74), AVG (.274), SLG (.477), extra base hits (178), and RBIs (259).
• Since taking over in center for the injured Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor was 27 for 88 (.307 AVG) before this afternoon’s matchup, with five doubles, two triples, three home runs, 10 RBIs, give walks, three stolen bases and 12 runs scored.
• Matt Wieter’s was hitless in a pinch hit appearance last night, ending his 11-game hitting streak.
• Jayson Werth had reached base in 16 of his last 17 games before today, going 19 for 63 (.302/.421/.524) over that stretch.
• Stephen Strasburg started the day (5-1) in six career starts against his hometown team, with a 3.50 ERA against the Padres in his career.

Nationals now 30-18