A closer look: Strasburg stymies D-backs as Nationals win opener
Aug 11, 2012, 4:36 AM | Updated: 5:52 am
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but
we
all
know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a
baseball
game. So, we will give you a closer look, providing you
with
the
analysis, quotes and notes from the D-backs’ August 10
loss to the Nationals.
Final
score: Nationals 9, Diamondbacks 1.
The Good:
Newcomer Chris Johnson continued his offensive prowess and recorded another RBI for the D-backs. It was his first at Chase Field since being acquired from the Astros. Johnson now has 17 RBIs in 11 games with the Diamondbacks.
Starter Trevor Cahill gave up four earned runs on the night but he got out of the first inning without any issues, which has been a sore spot for the right-hander this season.
The Bad:
The Diamondbacks were unable to get to Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg. He threw six solid innings and gave up just one hit and one earned run with four walks and six strikeouts.
Some additional bad news for the D-backs came from backup catcher Henry Blanco. He told the media Friday that the team will re-examine his thumb in six weeks, so the odds of him coming back for any part of the regular season or postseason is highly unlikely.
Noted:
Strasburg is 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in his last three road starts. The one hit he allowed Friday also tied a career-best.
He Said It:
D-backs manager Kirk Gibson talked about Strasburg and how his team felt when game got away from them.
“I thought we had a pretty good approach on him,” Gibson said. “Didn’t have a lot of energy to overcome that [Friday] to be honest with you.”
Coming Up:
The Diamondbacks will take on the Nationals in game two of this three-game series at Chase Field at 5:10 p.m. Rookie starter Wade Miley (12-7, 2.85) will go for his 13th win of the season. He is set to face former Diamondback Edwin Jackson (6-7, 3.56).
