|
Strasburg retired the side in order on six pitches in both the second and third innings, and when the Chiefs took the early lead, it was Strasburg who drove home the game's first run. After Seth Bynum doubled to left center, Strasburg singled up the middle off loser Ryne Reynoso for a 1-0 lead.
Strasburg took the mound in the third with a .375 batting average and two RBIs in just six games of pro ball, and his repertoire on the mound continued to impress.
The Braves finally reached Strasburg for a hit in the fourth when Blanco bounced a slow-rolling single up the middle. Strasburg responded by striking out Clevlen on a check swing on an 81 mph curve off the outside of the plate and getting Barbaro Canizares on a groundout to short.
"His stuff is obvious," Chiefs manager Trent Jewett said. "He has a phenomenal fastball and commands the other two pitches, has a changeup that most pitchers his age have never even heard of, don't know how to hold, don't know how to throw, don't understand it, don't know what it's designed to do.
"This guy, he's got those things, and he's just as good a person. There is no arrogance. He's a very impressive young man."
The Chiefs made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, and Strasburg had a hand in that, too. Mike Morse doubled to center and Chase Lambin followed with an RBI double into the right-field corner. Lambin moved to third on a groundout by Bynum and Maldonado walked to put runners at the corners.
With the infield charging as Strasburg squared to bunt, he dropped a soft sacrifice down the third-base line and Lambin scored on a headfirst slide when the relay back home from first was too late.
Strasburg departed to a standing ovation after getting Blanco on another called third strike to end the sixth. This time, Blanco took an 81 mph curveball on a 3-2 pitch as Strasburg rallied after falling behind 3-0 on the count.
"He challenged me there and I was ready for it," Strasburg said. "I was going to throw it over the plate, if he hit it, he hit it. But luckily enough he was looking for something else."
[Associated Press;
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries
Community |
Perspectives
|
Law & Courts |
Leisure Time
|
Spiritual Life |
Health & Fitness |
Teen Scene
Calendar
|
Letters to the Editor