Stephen Strasburg strikes out 12, Nats win 6-1

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon welcomed Stephen Strasburg back from the disabled list with a leadoff double in the first. No worries though as Strasburg retired the next three Rockies in order, stranding Blackmon after whiffing National League RBI leader Nolan Arenado on a filthy curveball.

Strasburg threw 12 pitches in the opening frame, reaching 98 mph with the heater.

In the second, Strasburg added two more strikeouts in a perfect inning.

Clint Robinson picked up the Nationals first hit on a bullet off Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes in the bottom of the inning. Ian Desmond followed with a walk. And then Wilson Ramos delivered a double over Carlos Gonzalez's head, scoring Robinson and Desmond to give the Nats an early lead.

Update: Danny Espinosa turned a leadoff walk in the third into the Nationals third run of the night when Desmond bounced a two-out RBI single up the middle.

Nolan Arenado belted Strasburg's 95 mph fastball into the Rockies bullpen for a one-out solo homer in the fourth. However, Strasburg ended up striking out the side and has fanned eight through four innings, allowing one run on three hits.

Update II: Bryce Harper drew a one-out walk in the fifth and Ryan Zimmerman followed with a rocket off the wall in the left-center alley. Harper motored all the way from first to score the Nats' fourth run on the play.

Strasburg has allowed one run on three hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts. It's the 17th time in his career that he's fanned 10 or batters in a game.

Update III: Strasburg got Ben Paulsen and D.J. LeMahieu chasing wicked curveballs for his 11th and 12th strikeouts of the night in the seventh. The right-hander is also having quite a night at the plate with his first three-hit night of his career.

Update IV: Espinosa walked to start the seventh and then Harper just missed his 30th homer with a blistered rocket off the top of the right field wall. The ball was hit so hard that it only went for a single, but gave the Nats runners at corners with no outs.

Zimmerman followed with a line drive single up the middle plating Espinosa. Robinson then hit into a double play, but Harper scored the Nats sixth run.

Update V: Strasburg's night ended after the seventh. The only run he allowed came on Arenado's solo homer. Strasburg was dominant, striking out 12 while yielding three hits with no walks.

Right-hander Blake Treinen pitched a perfect eighth.

Update VI: Matt Thornton closed it out in the ninth.

The Nationals beat the Rockies 6-1.