Strasburg struggles in first start

By Josh Land

Nationals

March 07, 2015, 9:14am

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VIERA, Fla. - After breezing through a perfect first inning, Stephen Strasburg labored through 28 pitches in the second before Nationals manager Matt Williams removed him with two outs. Williams had previously said that it was his plan for all starters to pitch either two innings or around 45 pitches. Strasburg had thrown 40 pitches, 26 for strikes, when Williams went to the mound.

Strasburg walked Randal Grichuk to start the second. Grichuk scored after back-to-back singles from Scott Moore and Xavier Scruggs. Moore then scored on a Rafael Ortega infield single. Strasburg allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.

The Nationals got a run back in their half of the second when a sac fly from Jeff Kobernus plated Dan Uggla. Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman both singled in their first at-bats.

Nats prospect A.J. Cole followed Strasburg to the mound. After getting out of the bases-loaded jam he inherited in the second, Cole surrendered a solo home run to Grichuk in the third.

It's Cardinals 3, Nationals 1 in the top of the third.