Rookie pitcher hurls a masterful six innings in his Syracuse Chiefs debut delighting an all-time record crowd
We already knew 21-year-old Stephen Strasburg could pitch.
The Washington Nationals’ top prospect had notched convincing numbers at Division I San Diego State allowing just 61 hits over 97 innings, had pitched for TEAM U.S.A. in 2008 earning a 4-0 record with a 0.88 earned-run-average and had won three of five games he started for Double-A Harrisburg earlier this season.
But now we know he can make things happen with his bat as well.
Strasburg knocked in the first two runs-batted-in during his Triple-A debut for the International League Syracuse Chiefs versus the Gwinnett Braves Friday, May 7, at Alliance Bank Stadium. The Chiefs went on to beat the Braves 7-0, with Strasburg earning the W.
The largest crowd ever to witness a baseball game in Syracuse — 13,766 — turned out on a partly cloudy evening asking if the 6-foot-5-inch right-hander was really the Second Coming, as a few blasphemous observers dubbed him, or was he nothing but a Great White Hype?
Judging from the way he pitched Friday, all I can say is Hosanna!
After what looked like an uneven bullpen warm-up in which he bounced several curves, Strasburg drew cheers from the multitudes with his first pitch to Gwinnett center fielder Matt Young, a scorching 96 mph heater for a called strike.
Young grounded out, but the next two batters whiffed helplessly. Left fielder Gregor Blanco, who’s hitting .333 on the road, saw seven pitches — five fastballs, one 90 mph changeup, and was frozen at the plate by a perfect 82 mph curve for called strike three. Right fielder Brent Clevlen, another .300 hitter, saw two cutters and two curves before swinging desperately at a fastball.
Strasburg so completely dominated the Braves, he didn’t allow a hit until Blanco pushed a grounder just beyond the outstretched glove of Chiefs shortstop Eric Bruntlett with one out in the fourth. It would be the only hit Strasburg would allow in his six innings of work, his longest outing of the season so far. Blanco broke up the no-hitter, but never fear, if Strasburg stays healthy, he’ll with throw plenty of no-nos in his career.
Meanwhile, the No. 1 draft pick proved he’s capable at the plate as well as on the mound. In the third inning Chiefs second baseman Seth Bynum doubled. Then, with two outs, Strasburg took his first at bat in a Syracuse uniform and promptly knocked a Ryne Reynoso fastball on the ground up the middle for an RBI single. The Chiefs third-base coach, Manager Trent Jewett, nearly tore his right rotator cuff by wind-milling Bynum home on the kid’s hit.
In the fourth, Jewett helped Strasburg notch his second RBI by calling for a safety squeeze with runners on first and third. Strasburg promptly and precisely bunted the ball to Braves third baseman Joe Thurston who threw to first to put Strasburg out allowing Chiefs third baseman Chase Lambdin to scurry home.
Back on the hill, Strasburg finished as impressively as he began it.
In the top of the sixth, pinch-hitter Wes Timmons and Young both grounded out. Then, after falling behind in the count to Blanco, Strasburg fought back to 3-2 before again bedazzling Blanco with that sneaky curve for strike three.
Before Strasburg is called up to the Nationals next month, he could make four or more starts for the Chiefs in May.
He was scheduled to throw here Wednesday, May 12, against the Norfolk Tides, and is likely to return to the ABS mound at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 22, against the Toledo Mudhens.
For Chiefs info, call 474-7833, or visit syracusechiefs.com.
