Aug 19, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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Strasburg sets personal high for single-season K’s
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WASHINGTON — Stephen Strasburg fanned four D-backs batters over eight innings Tuesday night at Nationals Park, tied for his lowest strikeout total since the beginning of July.
However, the performance was enough to give the hard-throwing right-hander 198 strikeouts on the season, a new single-season career high, surpassing his total in 2012, which he set prior to being shut down with six weeks still remaining in the regular season.
“It doesn’t mean much to me, to be honest,” Strasburg said of the achievement. “I’m just trying to make to good pitches, and just execute it. Just be smart and just hit the glove.”
After Tuesday night, Strasburg now leads the National League in strikeouts by double digits. He’s 11 ahead of second-place man Johnny Cueto of the Reds, who’s thrown 16 1/3 more innings than Strasburg this season. Read full article here.
Shoulder injury knocks McLouth out for season
WASHINGTON — Nationals outfielder Nate McLouth is out for the rest of the season because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder, the team announced Tuesday. He will have surgery to repair the labrum Thursday.
McLouth has had problems with his shoulder all year, but manager Matt Williams believes that McLouth’s shoulder got worse when he dove for a ball in right field during a 7-6 loss to the Marlins on July 28. However, the 32-year-old didn’t go on the disabled list until Aug. 4.
“It had been something he has been dealing with all year. The symptoms got bad after that game in Miami,” Williams said. “He dove for that ball, and it hasn’t gotten any better since.” Read full article here.
Williams: Aggressive Harper still learning, maturing
WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper led off the bottom of the fifth inning of the Nationals’ 5-4 win over the D-backs Monday night with a sharp line-drive single to right field. He sprinted out of the box and took an ambitious turn around first, stopping about 15 feet away from the base.
In the meantime, Arizona right fielder David Peralta had charged and fielded the hit cleanly. Seeing Harper that far off the bag, Peralta pump-faked a throw to first, with Harper breaking toward second as Peralta then fired to shortstop Didi Gregorious at second. Gregorius then easily ran down Harper and tagged him for the first out of the inning.
Harper’s decision was particularly curious, because at no point during the play did it appear as though the ball would get past Peralta. Read full article here.