WASHINGTON -- For right-hander Stephen Strasburg, 13 proved to be a lucky number as the Nationals defeated the Pirates, 5-1, at Nationals Park on Friday night.
Strasburg scattered three hits over eight innings of one-run ball, improving to a historic 13-0. Strasburg is the third National League starting pitcher to start a season 13-0, and the first since Giants left-hander Rube Marquard opened the 1912 campaign 18-0. Strasburg joins Dave McNally, Ron Guidry, Roger Clemens and teammate Max Scherzer as the only pitchers in the expansion era (1961-present) to win 13 straight decisions to start a season.