Strasburg strikes out 12 as Nationals top Rockies 6

They just did not look like it against Washington starter Stephen Strasburg.

Stephen Strasburg, showing flashes of past dominance, struck out a season-high 12 batters with no walks in his return from the disabled list and added a career-high three hits as the Washington Nationals beat the Colorado Rockies 6-1 on Saturday night. Against the powerful Colorado Rockies offense, he went seven strong innings, allowing just three hits and one run (on a solo home run from Nolan Arenado). The two rivals play each other six more times down the stretch, including the final three games of the season.

Entering the 2015 season, many experts picked the Washington Nationals to win the World Series. “He has been great all year”, Gonzalez said of Storen, who had retired 19 batters in a row before allowing a baserunner Thursday. “He was electric and his fastball was moving with a lot with velocity. He threw some really good changeups as well to the lefties – and he hit”. It’s really sharp. “As soon as you see that, you’ve already swung the bat and you get yourself in trouble”.

Oh, yes, Strasburg also rapped out three singles.

Rockies: RHP Eddie Butler (3-8, 5.45 ERA) faces Washington for the first time on Saturday. Bryce Harper drew a two-out walk and scored on Ryan Zimmerman’s double of the base of the left field wall when left fielder Brandon Barnes’ cutoff throw missed everyone and scooted harmlessly through the infield. “I am not anxious about him at all”, second baseman Danny Espinosa said of Storen.

“I think the big thing is putting guys away when I get the chance”, Butler said.

The Nationals got to Butler early.

Wilson Ramos gave the Nationals a 2-0 lead with his two-run double to right-center in the second. As always, here are your probable pitchers, so strap in for a series that, as sure as the day is long, will be a brutal, brutal piece of baseball for your beloved Colorado Rockies (but maybe they’ll win one?).

“I have personal expectations for myself every time”, Strasburg said.

“Made one bad pitch and [had] a fastball come over the plate to a really good hitter”.

Only two Rockies solved Strasburg. He also walked in the seventh but was stranded as the Nationals left the bases loaded as first baseman Ryan Zimmerman struck out to end the frame.The Nationals assumed a 4-0 lead in the sixth when Jayson Werth, the left fielder, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and shortstop Ian Desmond had an RBI double to left to score Harper.

Colorado Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez (5) celebrates his grand slam with Jose Reyes (7), Nolan Arenado (28) and Ben Paulsen, second from right, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, August 7, 2015, in Washington. Arenado’s 27th homer of the season cut Washington’s lead to 3-1.

Arenado has a. 347 career average at Nationals Park (8 for 23) with three homers and three RBIs plus five runs scored.