WASHINGTON – With an attendance announced at just 25,939 for yesterday’s return of Stephen Strasburg, the hype 
appears to be fizzling out. With empty seats scattered throughout Nationals Park, the Nats young and feared right-hander got rocked is a 8-2 loss to the Florida Marlins.
S.S. had dominated in his inaugural season before suffering pain in his throwing shoulder a few weeks ago. Since that flair-up, the youngster has been resting his arm and throwing a few simulated games.
Yesterday’s start was his first since July 21 and the hurler looked out of form from the start when Dan Uggla hit a two-run shot over the left field wall in the top of the first inning.
At times the Marlins looked like they had Kryptonite bats, ripping the leather off the ball and by the 5th inning, the Nats manager had seen enough and yanked Strasburg.
His stats at the end of the day included just 4 1/3 innings and 6 earned runs on 84 pitches.
“The arm felt really good. Nice and loose. I felt 100 percent. I didn’t know where [the pitches] were going today,” Strasburg said. “It happens being on the DL, coming back maybe expecting a little too much of myself. It kind of got to my head a little bit out there. I’m going to keep things simple next time.”
“It’s his first start back since a couple of weeks ago, when something was bothering him,” Uggla said. “He was out there, kind of feeling for it. His command wasn’t as good as the first time we faced him. His stuff was there, though. His fastball is explosive. His curveball had good break on it. The biggest difference was his command.”
The Nationals dropped to 49-64 with the loss.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC