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Stephen Strasburg threw six innings tonight, reaching that juncture for the first time since he had Tommy John surgery. And after a rough second start for Strasburg, his third time back on the mound couldn't have gone much better.
He retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced, and leaves the game having allowed just one run on four hits while striking out three. Strasburg needed just 61 pitches to get through six innings, and 45 of them were strikes. He looked more like the pitcher the Nationals saw in his first start, working efficiently and using his fastball to quickly put hitters in a hole. Strasburg has yet to issue a walk in 14 innings back in the majors. If there's anything the Nationals like more than Strasburg, it's an efficient Strasburg.
And all that still won't be enough to get him his first win of the season. The Nationals have scored just one run tonight, on Wilson Ramos' solo homer, and Strasburg leaves with the game tied. Henry Rodriguez is on in relief, continuing the Nationals' parade of high-velocity (if not necessarily well-placed) fastballs. Strasburg won't get a win, but once again, he made quite the impression.
