Erick Fedde strikes out nine in third start of season for P-Nats

WOODBRIDGE - Right-hander Erick Fedde, starting his first full season in the Nationals organization following Tommy John surgery almost two years ago, allowed three homers in his last start for Single-A Potomac versus Wilmington on April 15.

One of the three homers against the Blue Rocks was of the inside-the-park variety, but last season he had allowed only two homers over the entire campaign.

In his third start this season, the 2014 first-rounder again surrendered a longball when designated hitter Yu-Cheng Chang drilled a two-run shot over the left-center field wall in the top of the first to stake Lynchburg to a 2-0 lead.

"I didn't want to show him too much at the beginning of the game," Fedde told reporters after his start. "Maybe looking back on it, you want to throw something different, but I was challenging him. He got all of it and good for him, but it's something where (if) he doesn't hit quite right, it's an out. It barely got out. It sucks, but it's something that is going to happen when you're pitching."

Fedde rebounded and went 5 2/3 innings and got saddled with the 7-0 loss, despite allowing only three runs.

He had to battle through opening three of the first four frames by issuing a walk.

"The leadoff walks are never good," Fedde told reporters. "That's what kind of bit me today. It's something that I've never really had too much of a problem with and I think next start we shouldn't have any problem with it."

His mettle was tested in the fourth when he walked the first two batters. He then struck out Taylor Murphy, induced a 4-3 groundout and struck out Sicnarf Loopstock to end the threat.

"(Catcher) Matt (Riestetter) did a great job behind the plate today going in and out, calling up," Fedde told reporters. "We had some success. We knew this team was a lot free swingers and used that to our advantage."

Fedde throws two-seam and four-seam fastballs, a slider and a changeup.

He was able to strike out Chang in fifth on 3-2 outside and low pitch, getting him to chase. At one point, Fedde struck out eight batters through five innings and five of seven batters he faced.

He later caught former University of Virginia slugger Mike Papi looking in the sixth.

Fedde's line: three runs on three hits with four walks and nine strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches, 54 for strikes.

After recovering from Tommy John surgery in June 2014, what feels better in his first fill season of April starts?

"Just the command, sharpness on some of the pitches," Fedde told reporters. "I really feel like I'm getting my velo back. The way everything is pretty much finishing, a little bite to end of all my pitches, which is nice.

"Changeup was a lot better today. My slider's been my go-to pitch. It was good today, as well.

"I feel like I have a new start. This is the best I've felt in a long time, especially since surgery. Today's start, I felt like I did really well. I've been feeling really good out there. I'm excited the way it started."

What does he need to do next in his next outing?

"First,I got to get the crooked numbers off the board," Fedde said to reporters. "I've had a few innings now where I've completely shutdown 1-2-3. The innings that are biting me are one inning here (or) there.

"As long as I can get that done, I'm happy with the way my stuff is looking. It's just limiting the big innings. If I can do that, I'm going to have a lot of success."