WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg struck out four and allowed two hits over five scoreless innings in his first major league start since undergoing Tommy John surgery.
His workload carefully monitored, Strasburg threw 56 pitches, 40 of them for strikes. His fastball peaked at 99 mph on Tuesday night.
Strasburg left with the Nationals leading 3-0, but he was handed a no-decision when the Dodgers tied it in the top of the sixth.
The 2009 No. 1 overall draft pick wowed the baseball world last year during his rookie season. Those magical days of “Strasmus” came to an abrupt end when his elbow popped in a game at Philadelphia on Aug. 21, and his long road back began when he had ligament replacement surgery last Sept. 3.
