Strasburg helps lead Senators to division championship
By Editorial Staff
The Harrisburg Senators on Friday night clenched their first division championship since 1987 and they did so in convincing fashion by shutting out the Portland Sea Dogs by a score of 10-0.
The Senators single game attendance record 8,637 fans were treated to an impressive display of pitching from 2009 number 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg 23, turned in 6 scoreless innings of 1 hit baseball before exiting the game. His only hit against him came in the 6th inning on a double to lead off the inning from Portland’s catcher Daniel Butler.
In total it took Strasburg 70 pitches, 53 of which were strikes to get through 6 innings. Outside of the double off him in the 6th he allowed only one other base runner aboard and it came in the 5th when he grazed the front of Jeremy Hazelbakers jersey with a 97 mph fastball. Hazelbaker was eventually thrown out at second allowing Strasburg to get through 5 innings with only having faced the minimum 15 batters.
Everything seemed to be clicking just right for Strasburg who showed good movement in his slider, a fastball that topped out 99 mph and a high 70s to low 80s curve that left Portland’s batters flailing at the ball at times.
He definitely appears to be ready to make his 2011 Washington Nationals debut and from what he says “Everything feels great, so I’m ready to go out there and battle for the Nationals” it appears as if he feels he is ready to.
For anyone interested in seeing him pitch Tuesday the game is slated for a 7:05 start time and it will be a home game for the Nationals.