Stephen Strasburg’s last outing before tonight ended when he experienced cramping in his left hand/forearm. He left tonight’s outing against the San Francisco Giants after throwing a total of 35 pitches over two innings in which he looked uncomfortable on the mound.
Strasburg gave up solid contact, and three runs overall on five hits before he was lifted before the start of the third inning.
Asked about the cramping after his start in SunTrust Park, Strasburg said he thought it was once again an issue with dehydration, something he’s dealt with in previous seasons.
“It’s happened before,” Strasburg said, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman.
“It’s obviously humid out there. I think it’s something related to dehydration. It just tightened up on me.”
He didn’t look right from the start tonight.
Giants’ outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who started the night 3 for 22 (.138/.206/.138) vs Strasburg in their respective careers, took advantage of an early mistake in the series opener of San Francisco’s three-game set in the nation’s capital, sending a 2-2 fastball up in the zone out to left-center for a solo homer with two down in the top of the first, 1-0.
Pablo Sandoval doubled and scored in the second, 2-0, and Alen Hanson, whose RBI single brought Sandoval in, scored on a double to center by Hunter Pence, 3-0.
Strasburg headed directly down the tunnel to the clubhouse after the Giants’ second inning was over.
Nationals’ manager Davey Martinez spoke briefly to pitching coach Derek Lilliquist between innings and Lilliquist called down to the bullpen to get the relievers moving.
Shawn Kelley took over on the mound in the top of the third inning.
As per team policy, the Nationals rarely give in-game injury updates, but we’ll update when there is information available...