Strasburg exits early with injury in Nats' 5-2 loss

Stephen Strasburg faced just five batters before leaving tonight's game with an undiclosed injury. With one out in the first, Reds first baseman Joey Votto belted a 97 mph fastball from Strasburg deep over the centerfield fence for a solo homer. Third baseman Todd Frazier followed with a single to left before Ryan Zimmerman ended the inning with an unassisted double play on a grounder from right fielder Jay Bruce.

Strasburg immediately got ahead of catcher Brayan Pena 0-2 to start the second before delivering four consecutive balls to surrender a walk. After releasing the final pitch, a 95 mph heater, Strasburg began shrugging his shoulder and rolling his neck in obvious discomfort.

Nationals manager Matt Williams, pitching coach Steve McCatty and head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz quickly headed to the mound to check on Strasburg. After a brief discussion, Strasburg left the game and Williams called for right-hander Taylor Jordan.

Strasburg threw only 16 pitches.

This is the fourth time in Strasburg's last five starts that he has failed to make it through the fourth inning. It is also the second time this month that Strasburg has left a game early due to injury. On May 5, back issues forced Strasburg out of his start against the Marlins after just three innings.

Strasburg also suffered a sprained left ankle in spring training which caused him to miss an exhibition start.

The Nationals have two hits on the night, including a single from Ian Desmond that extended the shortstop's hitting streak to 13 games.

Update: The Nationals evened the game up in the fifth. Wilson Ramos started the inning with a double to center. Michael A. Taylor walked and then Jordan reached safely on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Span followed with grounder to Votto, who ended up forcing Ramos at the plate. But with two outs, Desmond hit a dribbler up the third base line that Frazier couldn't make a play on, allowing Taylor to cross the plate for the game-tying run.

Jordan has pitched four scoreless innings in relief of Strasburg, yielding four hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Update II: Zimmerman doubled off Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani with one out in the sixth. Ramos followed with one of his patented base knocks up the middle. Nats third base coach Bob Henley sent Zimmerman to the plate and Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton came up throwing. As the ball arrived, Zimmerman slid inside, extending his hand to swipe the plate in front of the tag from Pena.

The Reds answered in the bottom of the inning. Jordan served up a one-out walk to Reds left fielder Marlon Byrd. Then, second baseman Skip Schumaker rifled a double off the wall in right leaving the Reds with runners at second and third with one out.

Pinch-hitting for DeSclafani, Brandon Phillips lifted an easy fly ball to Taylor. With Byrd tagging, Taylor delivered a rope to the plate. The one-hop throw beat Byrd but Ramos wasn't able to gather it in. Tough break for the Nats as the Reds continued on with a big inning.

Hamilton ended Jordan's night with a single to center scoring Schumaker. Williams opted for right-hander Aaron Barrett, who promptly gave up a base hit to shortstop Zack Cozart that plated Hamilton.

Jordan allowed three earned runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout in 4 2/3 innings.

Update III: With two outs in the seventh and Span on first, Reds left-hander Tony Cingrani hit Bryce Harper with a 93 mph fastball square in the back on the first pitch of the at-bat. A frustrated Harper tossed his bat and shinguard toward the dugout. As Harper slowly made his way up the first base line, Votto approached him and the two began jawing back and forth for several seconds.

Votto ended up closing out the inning shortly after by stabbing Zimmerman's line drive.

Frazier mashed a hanging slider from Blake Treinin into the upper deck in left field for a solo homer in the bottom of the inning.

Update IV: Harper collected his first hit of the night off of Reds closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth but that was all the Nats could muster.

The Reds beat the Nats 5-2.