Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is done after three innings in his second start of 2011 season. The start of the game was a struggle for him as he gave up one run and threw 31 pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros. However, he calmed down and regained his control as the Washington offense gained control of the game in the third inning as the Nationals lead the Astros 5-1.
The final line for Strasburg was three innings, one run on three hits, no walks and four strike outs. He threw 57 pitches, 39 for strikes. The start of the game saw Strasburg have some control issues and low velocity but he settled in nicely against the Stros. His fastest pitch Sunday was 96 mph as he used the change up majority of the time as his strikeout pitch. In two starts Strasburg has pitched eight innings, struck out eight, walked none and surrendered only five hits and one earned run.
The Nationals supported their young phenom in the third inning with the help of back-to-back-to-back home runs from Ian Desmond, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Zimmerman. The last time the Nationals pulled off such a feat was in 2009 against the Houston Astros. Danny Espinosa has two doubles on Sunday breaking his 0-for-15 slump and Chris Marrero has two RBIs.
Nationals lead the Stros 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth.