Strasburg undeterred by early struggles, downs Marlins

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg doesn't need to strike out a batter every inning or completely shut down lineups to be successful.

Fresh off signing a new seven-year, $175 million contact extension earlier in the week, Strasburg pitched out of frequent challenges Saturday afternoon to drop the Marlins 6-4 i n the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

Strasburg continued his best start of the season, improving to 6-0, with six innings, allowing five hits and three runs with three walks, seven strikeouts and one hit by pitch.

Nationals manager Dusty Baker sensed Strasburg didn't have his best stuff in game one, but he watched as the right-hander figured out a way to get out of jams.

"It was a struggle for him most of the day, but he kept us in the game," Baker said. "It is big to always win that first game of the doubleheader. Now we'll do what we can to win the second game."

The Marlins were able to get a man on base thanks to a walk, hit or hit by pitch in each inning that Strasburg pitched, but never were able to put together a big inning after taking a first-inning lead.

Not only has Strasburg been good this season, but dating to the end of last season, the Nationals have been on a winning streak when he is on the bump.

The Nationals have now won his last 15 starts, tying a franchise record set by former teammate Jordan Zimmermann from Aug. 2, 2014 to April 8, 2015.

The 104 pitches by Strasburg were the most he had thrown in a game where he was pulled after six innings this season. Usually, when he would top 100 pitches, he would be able to get through seven or even eight frames.

"It was a grind out there today, Strasburg admitted. "Kind of had some pitches for a little bit and then it kind of went away. Not my best, but going to learn from it. And guys played great behind me and it was a good win for us.

"(Pitching coach Mike Maddux) always says talks about how good are you on your worst day? It's not all lost when you're not pitching well early on; you just got keep pushing it, stay focused and do everything you can early on put the guys in position to go out there and win it.

"You're just going to have some of these games. I'm just going to try to remember all the good ones that I threw and just kind of throw the bad ones in the trash."

Strasburg said his fastball was mostly there today, except for the first-inning home run he allowed to Christian Yelich. But the rest of his offerings were hit-and-miss in terms of location.

"To be honest, my fastball was really the only thing, other than the pitch to Yelich, that was more selection than execution," Strasburg said. "But the other pitches - curveball, changeup, even the slider - they kind of just showed up and then disappeared for a little bit. There's going to be games like that. I just wanted to go out there and just give it everything I had and keep it close. They picked me up."

This game was the also the first start for Strasburg since he signed the contract extension.

"Yeah, it felt a little different, but I think as the season gets back into swing and all the talk and everything subsides, all the interview requests, you get back into a routine but I'm just excited about the next outing and going out there and doing my job," Strasburg said.

"He's still got a little ways to go but he's come a long ways," Baker said. "He wants it very badly. I just hope the contract doesn't add any pressure to him because right now he's playing for fun. You hope that everybody gets into that position in their careers.

"When you are reverting back, it doesn't matter about the contract, you've got plenty of money, you're just reverting back to the love of the game and also for the thrill of competition. He's a competitor. Big time. He got the win, he's 6-0."