Wether you agree with the Washington Nationals’ decision to bring Stephen Strasburg back to the major leagues from Tommy John surgery, he’s back. He’ll only throw 60 pitches tonight but I’m excited. A running diary should mark the occasion well:
7:11- He’s warming up. The announcers just said he’s added a 2-seamer in addition to the stuff that he shut down big leaguers with last season. Good luck Dodgers.
7:12- 1st pitch a 96 mph fastball. The stadium is not sold out. Why?
7:13- Dee Gordon take the 4th straight 96 mph fastball into left-center for a leadoff double.
7:13- 1st pitch out of the set is a 97 mph fastball popped up to CF.
7:14- Dodgers are up there hacking. All fastballs so far. Wait, he just followed a 96 fastball with 2 80 mph curves. Kemp grounds out, 2 away. I’d say Strasburg looks pretty goof so far.
7:16- Juan Rivera is a Dodger?
7:17- Stephen retires the side on a 79 mph braking ball flied to left. The announcers just said he averaged about 12 k’s per game last season. WOW
7:19- Ted Lilly is starting for LA. Do you care? I’m just going to focus on Strasburg really.
7:27- Great diving stop by Dee Brown who can apparently do more than run. Just thought you’d like to know.
7:36- Messy one for Lilly, 2 walks, over 30 pitches. He escapes unscathed though and we head to the 2nd. Strasburg time.
7:39- Strike 2 to Ethier: 97 with serious bite.
7:39- Strasburg gets Ethier swinging on a 90 mph change up in the dirt after 97 in his eyes the pitch before.
7:41- 2 k’s this inning. 99 mph 4-seamer.
7:42- Easy inning. 97 mph fastball gets the pop up. End 1 and a half.
7:49- Ramos doubles in a run so Strasburg’s up with a man on 2nd and 1 gone. He’ll probably bunt
7:50- Doesn’t look like Stephen likes to hit very much.
7:50- Perfect bunt, Lilly throws it away. Run scores and Strasburg’s on second. I think the Nats announcer just proclaimed his undying love for Stephen.
7:52- Ian Desmond puts a ball through the hole on the right side. Strasburg to third. Most guys probably would have scored.
8:05- 96 mph 2-seamer to Ted Lilly followed by a 80 mph curve in the dirt. Lilly hanging tough though.
8:08- 98 right in on Dee Brown’s hands grounded back to the mound. Another quick inning.
8:20- Strasburg takes the mound in the 4th having retired the last 9 hitters.
8:22- 95 mph fastball left right out over the middle. Lined to right but caught by Jonny Gomes.
8:23- Kemp k’s on a 90 mph change up that was simply unhittable.
8:24- An easy grounder gets by Desmond by the scorer gives it a hit. 11 straight retired before it.
8:26- K number 4 on a 97 mph fastball at the letters. Ethier has had no chance in either AB.
8:31- Strasburg’s second AB. Pretty pathetic. He bunts and misses 3 times.
8: 41- One pitch, one out in the top of the fifth.
8:44- Stratsburg gets a foul out to end the fifth. he threw his best 2 breaking balls that inning.
8:44 Stratsburg looks to be done. 5 innings, 56 pitches, 40 strikes, o BB’s, 4 K’s, 2 hits. A real good showing for his first big league start in about a year.
-Max Frankel
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