Washington Nationals sent packing in Spring Training game against Houston Astros 2-10 - MLB
Languished by Tommy John surgery in 2010 and relatively inconsistent performances later, Stephen Strasburg makes a dramatic Major League Baseball Spring Training debut as his club Washington Nationals lost to Houston Astros 2-10 on Sunday, March 4 at Joker
Merchant Stadium, Florida.
Striking-out three, giving up two runs and three hits, Strasburg was fairly decent with his arm motions. Showing no sign of fatigue and hurling the ball at a massive pace, it looked as if he has successfully overcome the problem of getting exhausted early.
"The biggest thing I noticed was that it was very easy for me to go out there," Strasburg said. "My arm felt a lot stronger. It didn't feel like it was getting tired as fast (as last year). I mean, it was pretty much a breeze. I was a little erratic at times,
but I know that's going to come with repetitions and just fine-tuning the mechanics."
James Anthony Happ, starting pitcher for Houston Astros did a fine job on the mound, recovering quickly after the lead-off walk to Nationals’ Michael Morse and only giving up an RBI single to Jason Michaels afterwards.
After facing Strasburg for the first time Chris Snyder, Astros’ catcher was all-praise for him. "He's got live stuff, definitely," Snyder said. "That first fastball he threw me, it gets on you (quick), and then he buckled me with a curveball.”
Snyder was a sole player in the match who hit the home run on a 3-1 fastball.
Happ and Henry Sosa kept things tight for Nationals’ runners and got them completely trapped in the second and third inning, never allowing them to get settled. The way they were luring the Nationals into committing mistakes reflected their precise anticipation
of their actions.
Taking Nationals’ reliever Tom Gorzelanny in particular, Astros’ Fernando Martinez hammered two hits, recording four RBIs and a three-run homer. In one inning alone, Gorzelanny conceded seven runs. Another player who added a homer to the Astros’ score was
J.D. Martinez.
Missing a catch at right-field corner Nationals’ out-fielder Bryce Harper could have avoided a triple if he had reacted to the ball. The Nationals will be looking to put in a better performance in their next Grapefruit League match.
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