WASHINGTON (AP) Stephen Strasburg downplayed any notion that starting pitchers on the same team attempt to top each other. On the mound one day after Max Scherzer overwhelmed the San Diego Padres, the right-hander did just that.
Strasburg dominated San Diego with a career-high 15 strikeouts while allowing three hits over seven innings as the Washington Nationals beat the Padres 3-0 on Saturday.
Strasburg (6-1) singled and scored Washington’s first run on Bryce Harper’s RBI fielder’s choice grounder in the third inning. Michael A. Taylor hit a two-run homer for the second consecutive game.
San Diego’s lineup offered little resistance against Strasburg the day after Scherzer struck out 13 in Washington’s 5-1 win.