Stephen Strasburg did not disappoint in his return to the mound for the first time in over a year Tuesday night facing the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park in Washington DC. Strasburg, on a limit of roughly four innings or 60 pitches, threw five scoreless innings, allowing two measly hits, throwing 56 pitches while striking out four.
The Nationals lead the Dodgers 3-0 in the middle of the fifth inning.
Strasburg was, in a word, electric, to the delight of the partisan crowd, battling the rain to watch the phenom. Strasburg hit 99 MPH, and was consistently in the upper 90s, effectively mixing in a changeup as well, which at times hit 90.
The Nationals rallied for three runs in the second inning thanks to a pair of doubles and a throwing error by Ted Lilly on a bunt by Strasburg. The fewest pitches thrown by an MLB winning pitcher in 2011 is 61, held by both Micah Owings and Clay Buchholz. Strasburg is at 56 pitches and now out of the game.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.