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Strasburg not quite as dominant as usual against the Phillies

Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg has been strong against the Phillies, but there was a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel Friday night.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. (Brad Mills/USA Today)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. (Brad Mills/USA Today)Read more
    by BY DAVID MURPHY, Daily News Staff Writer <a href="mailto:dmurphy@phillynews.com">dmurphy@phillynews.com</a>
    Published 

WASHINGTON - They are the kind of numbers that prompt you to turn to other sources for fact-checking. Sure, we've watched Stephen Strasburg dominate the Phillies for 2 years now, but seeing the quantification of his performance on paper is not necessarily believing. Consider: Of the 181 Phillies who had faced Strasburg in 2013 and 2014 heading into last night's start against the Nationals' ace, a whopping 64 had struck out. That's 35 percent. In 48 2/3 innings, he had yielded only 34 hits and seven walks, with only five of his 11 runs of the earned variety.

So how, exactly, do you beat a guy who has exhibited such dominance?

"Try and get him early in the count," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said before Friday night's game. "He can be around the plate, and if he's doing that with his fastball, then go up and attack the fastball. I'd say early in the count, and shorten up your swing just a little bit to get solid contact and give yourself a chance."

Maybe next time.

Strasburg was his usual self last night, and it's no coincidence that the Phillies' rally that sent the game into extra innings coincided with the righthander's exit (the game ended too late for this edition). Still, there was this: Of the 21 batters who faced Strasburg in his six innings of work, only five struck out. Hey - it's progress.

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese