Strasburg makes his debut with Nationals

Posted Mar 9, 2010 by TBO.com

Updated Mar 9, 2010 at 06:21 PM

VIERA - Top prospect Stephen Strasburg made his spring training debut on Tuesday, pitching two scoreless innings in the Washington Nationals’ 9-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Strasburg threw 15 of his 27 pitches for strikes and allowed two hits, successive two-out singles by Don Kelly and Alex Avila in the second. But the right-hander finished off Brent Dlugach with a bending, 81 mph breaking ball for an inning-ending strikeout.

Strasburg was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft and received a record $15.1 million, four-year contract from the Nationals. He went 13-1 in his final season with San Diego State, leading Division I pitchers in ERA (1.35) and strikeouts (195 in 109 innings).

Pirates 12, Yankees 7

TAMPA — Nick Johnson hit two home runs for New York, but CC Sabathia gave up five runs in his second start of the spring.

Sabathia gave up a three-run homer to Garrett Jones and allowed seven hits. He threw 55 pitches, 34 strikes, a marked improvement over his first outing: 19 strikes, 17 balls.

Jones also had a double, and Lastings Milledge had an RBI single in the four-run first for Pittsburgh.

Astros 8, Mets 4

PORT ST. LUCIE — Johan Santana struggled in his first game since August, allowing four runs on six hits in 1 2-3 innings for New York.

Kaz Matsui hit a solo homer for the first of four straight hits in the first inning off Santana, who struck out one and walked one.

Brett Myers gave up two runs on four hits in three innings, including a two-run homer to David Wright in the first, and Pedro Feliz added a two-run shot for Houston.

Twins 7, Cardinals 6

FORT MYERS — Third base prospect Danny Valencia hit the go-ahead homer in the eighth, Justin Morneau hit a two-run double and Joe Mauer added an RBI single for the Twins.

Valencia’s shot over the left field fence gave the Twins the lead on a day marked by bad news of a torn ligament in All-Star closer Joe Nathan’s throwing elbow.

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright allowed five hits, four runs and two walks in two innings. Matt Holliday had an RBI double and Colby Rasmus hit a two-run homer for St. Louis.

Red Sox 9, Marlins 0

JUPITER — Tim Wakefield pitched three shutout innings to keep his spring training ERA at 0.00 for Boston.

Wakefield allowed two hits, both singles, and walked none in his second appearance of the spring. Preparing for his 18th major-league season, he threw 22 of 30 pitches for strikes.

Former Marlin Jeremy Hermida singled home a run in the first inning for his first RBI with Boston. Florida starter Anibal Sanchez allowed five runs, four earned, in 2 1-3 innings.

Rays 8, Orioles 3

SARASOTA — Jeff Niemann pitched four innings and Evan Longoria drove in two runs for Tampa Bay.

Niemann allowed one run and two hits. He needed just 36 pitches to become the first Rays player to go four innings this spring.

Chris Tillman pitched 2 1-3 innings, yielding two runs, one earned, and four hits for Baltimore, which has lost six straight.
-The Associated Press