Hens lose but score on Strasburg

5/25/2010
ASSOCIATED PRESS

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Stephen Strasburg finally has an earned run average in Triple-A ball.

Strasburg, who had not allowed a run in winning his first three starts for the Syracuse Chiefs, went five innings last night against the Toledo Mud Hens, allowing five hits and two runs, one earned.

He threw 52 pitches, 36 for strikes, did not walk anyone and struck out five, departing with the game tied 2.

The right-hander had allowed only four hits and no runs in 181/3 innings in his first three starts with Syracuse.

Strasburg, the top pick in the 2009 amateur draft by the Washington Nationals, was finally touched for an unearned run in the third, ending his scoreless streak at 201/3 innings at the minors' highest level. Toledo's Deik Scram hit a hard grounder over first base and down the right-field line for a triple and scored on a passed ball.

Will Rhymes and Carlos Guillen put the ball in play on the first pitch, and both hit soft fly balls to the outfield before Strasburg caught Scott Sizemore looking at a 2-2 curve to end the inning.

Jeff Frazier singled to center with one out in the second for Toledo, hitting an 81 mph curve up the middle on a 1-1 offering. Strasburg then struck out Casper Wells with an 83 mph curve after five straight pitches registered 96 mph or faster on the Alliance Bank Stadium radar gun.

Brent Dlugach was retired on a comebacker to end the inning.

Kevin Mench was ejected after a called third strike in the bottom of the third and Chiefs manager Trent Jewett followed him to the clubhouse after a lengthy tirade

directed at plate umpire Alan Porter.

Strasburg seemed distracted by the delay as he warmed up for the fourth, and the Mud Hens took advantage.

Guillen led off with a line single to right, and after Ryan Strieby struck out swinging at an 81 mph curve, Frazier lined a double down the left-field line and Wells followed with an RBI single to left to tie the game at 2.