Strasburg wins 14th as Nats down Indians
the Nationals’ $175 million man. He was in control from the outset and made Washington’s 2-0 lead over the first five innings feel like the score was 10-0.
Strasburg walked one and struck out seven.
“He has a lot of weapons,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He can throw the ball by you, a fastball on both sides of the plate. He has a slider, change. He’s got everything and his fastball has a ton of ride or finish, however you want to put it. His delivery. It’s impressive.”
After Tuesday’s rough loss, the Nationals needed a spark. Strasburg gave them one.
“A lot of times you respond to the guy who’s pitching on the mound,” Baker said. “The game starts and stops with him having the ball in his hand.”
Strasburg understands what’s expected of him whenever he takes the mound.
“I try to do that every time if we’re winning or if we’re losing,” he said. “All I can do is what I can on the day I pitch. It’s a long season so I’m going to keep grinding.”
Strasburg was never in real trouble and on the two occasions the Indians got a runner to third, Strasburg got the out he needed.
Murphy, the NL’s leading hitter, extended his hitting streak to 13 games with his towering shot off Carrasco to make it 3-0. Turner’s broken-bat RBI single in the seventh put the Nationals up by four.