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Stephen Strasburg went 5 full innings Monday for his third win in 4 starts and notched his longest professional outing as the Phoenix Desert Dogs beat Surprise 10-2. In 5 innings, Strasburg scattered 4 hits, allowed 1 run and struck out 6. He threw 68 pitches, 43 of them for strikes.

His record now stands at 3-1 with a 5.28 ERA. If you throw out the second start where he got roughed up, he has a 1.48 ERA in the other 3 starts: 12 and 2/3 innings pitched with 2 ER allowed.

After the game, I caught up with Desert Dogs Pitching Coach Paul Menhart to talk about Strasburg's performance.

What was your take on Strasburg's fourth start?:
"Strasburg was really aggressive today. He had an extra lively fastball, used it to get ahead of the hitters. His changeup was filthy. He sold the changeup really well today, inducing some ugly swings. The breaking ball was okay, he gave up one double with it. But he was effective getting to the bottom of the zone with his pitches. His last two outings have been pretty solid."

How have the catchers done in working with Strasburg?:
"The Nats' Sean Rooney and the Rays' Nevin Ashley have caught his 4 outings, splitting the 4 games. Ashley caught his first outing and today's effort. They have had a good plan each time, a very aggressive plan."

What makes today's start such a good one for Strasburg?:
"Strasburg is pitching very well. The best stat to prove this point is he registered 6 strike outs today and the other 9 outs were ground balls. No fly balls. That shows me he is getting action on his pitches, inducing soft contact and getting easy outs."

[Strasburg] keeps getting to go longer in each game when he is successful. Is that part of the Nats' plan with him?:
"The AFL has an unwritten rule that doesn't allow the starting pitchers to go over 5 innings. It is really controlled throughout the league. One reason is the fact that each team has 20 pitchers and every organization wants to see their guys pitch. In Stephen's case, we want 5 innings pitched, 75 pitches or less. Last time he went into the 5th, this outing he finished the 5th inning. This is working out just like we would want it to anyway."

Pretty impressive accolades for both Stephen and Drew, who have been chosen for the Rising Stars roster and game on November 7th (The Desert Dogs staff will coach one team):
"Strasburg will go in the Rising Stars game on the 7th. Then he will pitch on the 13th and the 19th. If we can make it to the championship game, he could pitch a little in that game too (on the 21st). We might even hold him out of the game on the 19th in order to pitch in the championship game. In a perfect world that is a possibility. But you have to get to the championship game first.

Drew Storen is also in the Rising Stars game. He pitched 1 inning today. A nice, clean inning. He is doing extremely well. Got some good swings. He is very aggressive. He comes after you. Some real hard stuff. You had better be ready (as a hitter). Effort is not an issue with this kid. He gives it every outing."

What's next after the Arizona Fall League for these guys?:
"Following the AFL, both will get some rest, then start the offseason workout program with our strength and conditioning team. College guys are a little different (like Strasburg and Storen), because they are used to pitching in intrasquad scrimmages (in the Fall). So we will give them some rest and then resume light tossing in December. Strasburg will be in the big league camp when pitchers and catchers report in February."

On Strasburg through 4 starts:
"This has been an outstanding experience. Strasburg is well beyond his years. He was extremely green in some aspects of pitching coming in, but he is an absolute sponge when it comes to learning pitching in the big leagues. He asks the right questions at the right time. I tell him what he needs to know in small doses. Strasburg needs to pitch and he's doing it. He's pitching quite well."

How did the Nationals players do overall:
"It was really 'Nationals Day' at the ballpark. Josh Wilkie came in and did a great job again: 2 groundouts and a strikeout. Chris Marrero had 5 RBI, Danny Espinosa 3 runs, 2 hits. [It was] a good day for the Nationals organization."