Nats edge Pirates in right-hander’s sensational first start

Box >

Click To watch Strasburg 14K Debut

WASHINGTON — Making his Major League debut after 11 sensational Minor League starts, Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg pitched seven innings of two-run ball against the Pirates on Tuesday, earning the win and striking out 14 in the Nats’ 5-2 victory. Delwyn Young’s two-run home run with two outs in the fourth was the only damage against Strasburg.

Strasburg allowed just four hits and with his 14 strikeouts surpassed the Nationals’ season high. The righty threw 94 pitches, 65 for strikes, and didn’t walk a batter. The righty retired his final 10 batters, striking out his last seven.

“It was just a great night for Stephen — a great night for the Nationals,” manager Jim Riggleman said during an eighth-inning television interview on MLB Network’s broadcast. “When you see guys like this come along, it’s really special. He’s humble — just really a guy that the Nationals are really proud of. Hopefully, we can keep him healthy and keep it going.”

Strasburg entered the fourth having allowed one hit against six strikeouts. But the first two batters of the fourth, Neil Walker and Lastings Milledge, singled. Garrett Jones then grounded into a double play before Young hit a 1-0 changeup into the right-field seats for a two-run homer and a 2-1 Pirates lead.

Strasburg retired Pittsburgh in order in the top of the first inning. Andrew McCutchen lined out to shortstop Ian Desmond, Walker grounded out to first baseman Adam Dunn and Milledge struck out to end the inning.

Strasburg was given a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning when Ryan Zimmerman hit a solo home run off Jeff Karstens.

In the second inning, Strasburg struck out the side. He fanned Jones and Young before giving up a single to Andy LaRoche. Strasburg then struck out Ronny Cedeno to end the inning.

An inning later, Strasburg struck out Jason Jaramillo and Karstens before McCutchen grounded out to Zimmerman at third to end the inning.

In his first two at-bats, Strasburg grounded out to Cedeno at shortstop, leading off the bottom of the third and for the second out of the fifth.

In the top of the fifth, Cedeno struck out, Jaramillo grounded out to Dunn and Karstens struck out looking at a 99-mph fastball.

Strasburg struck out the side for the second time in the sixth inning, but for the first time in order. McCutchen went down on four pitches, Walker on three and Milledge on four. Every player in the Pirates’ starting lineup struck out at least once.

Dunn’s two-run homer in the sixth inning gave Washington a lead it would keep.