Strasburg "fine" after comebacker, worst loss of season

First things first: Stephen Strasburg says he feels fine after taking a comebacker off his right hip in the top of the third inning today, and says that won't impact his ability to pitch in Tuesday night's All-Star Game.

The decision to remove Strasburg from the game at the end of that inning, with the Braves already leading by six runs and on their way to a 13-0 drubbing of the Nationals, was made by manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux, not the pitcher himself. Though Baker did indicate that decision was made "mainly because he was hurting" and not because of performance.

"I feel fine," Strasburg said afterward. "I definitely could've kept going, but I just got singled to death."

No matter how it happened, this was not Strasburg at his best this afternoon. He was the victim of some bad luck (and some bad defense) but he also gave up more than a couple hard-hit balls. And he particularly struggled after getting struck by Nick Markakis' comebacker, all of which led to his shortest start of the season by a full two innings.

Even when he retired the side in the top of the first, Strasburg needed 20 pitches. The Braves, who always have had more success against him than other opponents, then went to work on the right-hander after that. They got a double by Markakis (on a soft liner to left that was misplayed by Adam Lind) and then RBI singles by Kurt Suzuki and pitcher Julio Teheran to plate two runs in the top of the second.

And before the comebacker in the third, the Braves got a double by Freddie Freeman that left his bat at 104 mph and an RBI single by Matt Kemp that left his bat at 106 mph.

Markakis' liner back up the box careened toward Strasburg's hip at 96 mph, then dropped to the ground. Strasburg picked up the ball and made an ill-advised attempt to throw out Kemp at second base, yanking the throw wide and into center field for an error.

After a conversation at the mound with Baker, Maddux and head athletic trainer Paul Lessard, and after a couple of warmup tosses, Strasburg stayed in the game. But he immediately surrendered another RBI single to Suzuki (105 mph off his bat), and then after walking No. 8 batter Johan Camargo another RBI single to Teheran (who entered the day hitting .071 but left the park hitting .133).

"Bad luck, to be honest," Strasburg said. "Other than Freeman and Markakis, they really weren't squaring the ball up. I just got singled to death."

As he returned to the dugout at inning's end, his pitch count at 65, Strasburg was informed by Baker he wouldn't be returning to the mound for the top of the fourth. Ryan Raburn grabbed a bat and helmet to pinch-hit for the pitcher, while Tanner Roark began warming in the bullpen.

"I know some guys want to lobby for it, but I feel like that's their decision," Strasburg said in explaining why he didn't put up a fight. "And I'm going to keep going until they take the ball out of my hands. And that's when they decided to take it out of my hands."

Thus concluded an otherwise strong first half by Strasburg, who on eight occasions went seven or more innings allowing two or fewer earned runs. He wasn't as consistently excellent as other All-Stars, though, and his 3.43 ERA heading into the break now ranks 12th in the National League.

"He's been excellent at times, good at times and fair at times," Baker said before today's game. "But he and the team have a way of winning when he's on the mound. Shoot, what is he, 9-2? You can't argue with that."

You also can't argue with the 112 2/3 innings Strasburg has pitched, an average of 6.3 per start that leaves him on pace for 214 total at season's end.

"He's healthier than he (was last year)," Baker said. "We're not really concerned about his innings or health or those telltale signs. We've got to keep him strong through the playoffs."

Today represented the first injury scare for Strasburg of the season. By all accounts, it doesn't appear to be any cause for concern beyond today.

Strasburg will join four of his teammates and fly to Miami following Sunday's game, then enjoy All-Star festivities for the third time in his career.

The real test for the right-hander will come after that, as he attempts to sustain his success through the second half and beyond for a Nationals club that desperately wants him to be a key contributor whenever this season ends.