Strasburg on setting franchise strikeout record: "a blessing"

NEW YORK - Lost a bit in the 7-6 setback against the Mets was the pitching turned in by Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg.

The right-hander recorded a quality start, twirling seven innings, allowing a couple of home runs, but only four total hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. It was a nice bounceback from the nightmare of Aug. 3, when he surrendered nine runs in just 4 2/3 innings in the 18-7 loss at Arizona.

His only real blemishes came when he allowed back-to-back homers in the fourth inning. Pete Alonso's two-run shot and J.D. Davis' solo homer erased the Nats 3-0 lead.

"I think it was a step in the right direction," Strasburg said. "I think it was more sequence than anything in the fourth. Alonso crushed that one, and I guess J.D. did too. Sometimes that happens, but was able to bounce back, make a couple tweaks and keep it close."

With his six strikeouts, the veteran - now in his 10th season as a National - has recorded 1,625 in his career, surpassing the 1,621 strikeouts by the Expos' Steve Rogers from 1973-1985.

"It's definitely a blessing," Strasburg said. "I wasn't really thinking about it, didn't even really know it was happening. Just going to continue to work hard and keep trying to get better."

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Strasburg deserves high praise for being able to pitch with the club long enough to get to such a milestone.

"That's a testament to how hard he works," Martinez said. "He's one of the staples to this organization. Been here for a very long time. I congratulated him when he did it, and he said, 'Hey, I still got a lot of game left.' I said, 'I get it. Let's go.'"

When Strasburg allowed nine runs on nine hits - including a season-high three homers - in a loss to the Diamondbacks, some speculated that the Arizona batters knew what he was going to throw to the plate. Strasburg said that was one main difference Friday night in holding the Mets to four hits.

"Well, I think I wasn't tipping as much," Strasburg confirmed. "That's a step in the right direction."

So did Strasburg make an adjustment from the loss in Phoenix?

"Don't really want to focus too much on the start two starts ago, but I think it's just something that you have to be aware of, and sometimes you got to look for it," Strasburg said. "'Cause you'll have games like that where you are scratching your head, and the hitters are reacting much more normal this time around."

What was also interesting was the way Strasburg got through some tough jams in the fourth and sixth innings Friday. The Mets got to him in the fourth, but in the sixth Strasburg fought back after allowing back-to-back singles to begin the frame. Following singles by Amed Rosario and Michael Conforto, Strasburg notched three outs in a row over Alonso, Davis and Wilson Ramos to get out the inning. Each time, the 39,602 in Citi Field tried to affect the outcome with noise and cheering.

"They pull for their team," Strasburg said. "I don't know if they come play us again, but I hope all the fans are watching the game, 'cause it gets into crunch time and those things really carry teams and get us to the next level."

The Nats have two more games this weekend against the Mets in Queens. But the Mets also visit Nats Park one last time in the regular season, Sept. 2-4.

At Citi Field, Strasburg owns a 2.32 ERA in 81 1/3 career innings. The two homers allowed Friday night were the most he has allowed at Citi Field since April 13, 2013, a span of nine starts.