Quick Hitters
Strasburg leaves after 2 innings, Nats beat D-Backs
PHOENIX — Stephen Strasburg says he hasn’t felt right since the All-Star break and decided after two innings in Arizona to call it a day.
“The stuff was good but it’s still kind of like lingering,” he said, “and I just want to nip it in the bud now, hopefully not miss any time and try and be smart about it.”
Manager Dusty Baker turned to five relievers to share the final seven innings in the Washington Nationals’ 6-2 victory over the Diamondbacks on Sunday that wrapped up a successful ninegame trip out of the All-Star break.
Strasburg described the problem as slight “achiness” in his forearm.
In his previous start in Cincinnati, Strasburg went seven innings, limiting the Reds to one run on four hits while fanning 11 and walking one.
“It’s not really like intense pain in a specific area,” he said. “It’s just kind of like general tightness and I’m having a tough time to really get loose out there.”
Strasburg, 10-3 with a 3.25 ERA, uncharacteristically walked the No. 8 and No. 9 batters in the second inning before departing with a 5-0 lead. He threw 51 pitches, 29 strikes.
“He’s had a little stiffness, really couldn’t get loose even though he’s throwing the ball well,” Baker said. “So we’ll analyze it when we get back home after he sees our doctors and hopefully we’ll have an answer on Tuesday.”
Brian Goodwin’s leadoff homer ignited a four-run first inning off Robbie Ray (9-5), who lasted five innings, allowing five runs.
Bryce Harper singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.
Wilmer Difo hit his second home run of the season off reliever T.J. McFarland in the seventh.
Joe Blanton (1-2) got two outs and earned the win.
The NL East-leading Nationals took two of three in Arizona to go 7-2 on the trip.
Kershaw headed to DL after leaving with back injury
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is headed to the disabled list after his latest back injury.
The All-Star left his start against the Atlanta Braves after two innings on Sunday because of right low back tightness.
Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw felt something on his last warm-up pitch going into the second inning.
“Just felt a little something in my back that wasn’t normal,” a subdued Kershaw said.
After a couple of practice pitches in front of a team trainer, Kershaw resumed facing Tyler Flowers with two outs and walked him. He struck out Matt Adams to end the inning and headed into the clubhouse.
“He couldn’t get extended. The aggression wasn’t there,” catcher Austin Barnes said. “I saw it for a couple pitches and it was kind of messed up.”
From behind the plate, Barnes could tell something wasn’t right.
“It looked like something was going on in his head, it looked like something in his eyes,” Barnes said. “I think it was on his mind for sure. He didn’t want to hurt more.”