|
 Both teams scored on wild pitches and the Nationals tallied all
their runs with two outs as they won back-to-back games for the
first time since July 30 with the victory over a slumping Rockies
team.
Strasburg (7-6) came off the disabled list Aug. 8 and on that day
limited the Rockies to one run and three hits in seven innings with
no walks and 12 strikeouts in Washington.
While winning for the first time in three starts at Coors Field and
picking up his 50th career victory on Wednesday, Strasburg allowed
one unearned run and two hits in seven innings. He struck out five
without issuing a walk.
"He went out there from pitch one to the last pitch that he threw...
it was total control of the game," said Nationals closer Jonathan
Papelbon, who earned his third save with the Nationals since being
acquired in a July 28 trade.
"He knew exactly what he wanted to do and executed it."
In three starts since being reinstated from the disabled list,
Strasburg is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA, two walks and 25 strikeouts.
Strasburg gave up a run in the second. Washington first baseman Ryan
Zimmerman made an error on a ball hit by Ben Paulsen, allowing the
Colorado first baseman to reach second. He then took third on a
groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
The pitcher retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced, including
the final 10 after Paulsen reached base.
"I think teams try to get me early," Strasburg said. "Because I know
when I get a feeling, when I start to settle down, command all my
pitches, it's a little bit tougher."
[to top of second column] |
Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa pitched six scoreless innings and
departed with a 1-0 lead before Gonzalez Germen came on in the
seventh and gave up a two-out double to right fielder Bryce Harper.
Germen then walked third baseman Yunel Escobar on four pitches and
shortstop Ian Desmond on five to load the bases, then threw a wild
pitch that tied the score at 1-1.
Rafael Betancourt (2-4) retired the first two batters he faced in
the eighth before catcher Wilson Ramos singled and pinch hitter
Clint Robinson walked, bringing up Werth, who lined an
opposite-field triple to right to put the Nationals ahead.
Zimmerman's single to shallow right brought in Escobar in the top of
the ninth to complete the scoring.
The win was Washington's 11th in the past 31 games and it nudged the
Nationals back over .500 at 60-59.
(Compiled by John O'Brien)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
