The Stephen Strasburg Rehab Tour had another successful stop, this time in Potomac for the Washington Nationals Class A affiliate. Strasburg pitched three innings against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, throwing 33 pitches in those frames, 26 for strikes. Reports indicated his velocity was in the high 90s all night, at times hitting 98 and 99mph. No balls left the infield against Strasburg, and he struck out five batters against no walks.
Strasburg struck out one batter in the first inning, and induced two ground ball outs, while hitting 98mph on the gun. He upped the ante, striking out two Pelicans batters in the second, one on a curveball on a night when he threw very few off speed pitches. He finished his evening with a dominant third, striking out two hitters and getting a groundball out on just eight pitches.
Nationals management has to be pleased with this outing, coming off Strasburg's first rehab start at Class A Hagerstown, in which the fireballing young righty threw 1 2/3 innings, striking out three while allowing one run. The team has yet to announce when and where his next rehab start will take place.