Stephen Strasburg Dominates in 7-1 Washington Nationals Victory
By Kenny DeJohn
Jul 1, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) stands on the mound during the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen Strasburg‘s strong pitching performance was backed up by a potent offensive attack on Tuesday night, as the Washington Nationals took care of the Colorado Rockies, 7-1.
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Washington’s offense didn’t strike often, but when it did, the runs came in bunches. Despite scoring in just two different innings, the team was able to plate seven runs.
The scoring started early. Jayson Werth‘s 15th double of the year plated Denard Span and Anthony Rendon in the bottom of the first. Later in the inning, Werth scored on a sacrifice fly in foul territory by Ryan Zimmerman.
Strasburg and Rockies starter Christian Friedrich would then trade zeros until the bottom of the fourth. That’s when the Nationals struck again.
Strasburg hit his first double of the year with one out in the inning, and after a single by Span, the Nats were set up with runners on the corners. Rendon then smacked his 17th double of the year, scoring both baserunners. Werth, the following batter, then hit his second double of the game to score Rendon.
Werth would come around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch by Rockies reliever Chad Bettis.
At the end of four innings, the Nationals were ahead, 7-0.
Strasburg was able to cruise from there. He didn’t run into significant trouble all night, and allowed his only run in the top of the eighth when DJ LeMahieu took him deep to left-center field. All in all, Strasburg was great. He went 7 2/3 innings allowing just that one run. He struck out eight, walked one and surrendered just five hits.
Craig Stammen got the final four outs of the game to lock down Strasburg’s seventh win of the year.