Stephen Strasburg has looked good in spring training thus far. (Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports)
LAKELAND, Florida — Washington Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg and Detroit’s Justin Verlander, a fellow right-hander, had nearly identical lines for pitches and strikes Tuesday in a spring training game at Joker Marchant Stadium.
But the results were very different as Strasburg pitched four scoreless innings while Verlander was roughed up for five hits and four earned runs in his four innings of work. A.J. Cole took over for Strasburg in the fifth and the Washington bullpen allowed four runs, but the Nationals won 6-4.
“I try not to be too fine,” Strasburg said. “The biggest thing is knowing how to put guys away with two strikes.”
Strasburg gave up just three hits with no walks and five strikeouts. He threw 61 pitches, with 44 for strikes. Verlander allowed one walk and three strikeouts and threw 60 pitches – 44 for strikes.
“You are not just preparing for the first game (of the season),” said Strasburg, who allowed three hits and two runs in one and 2/3 innings in his first spring start. “You are preparing for the games that matter at the end.”
“His changeup was working good,” said Nationals manager Matt Williams, who has not named an Opening Day starter yet. “I thought he threw really well. He got his pitch count to where he wanted.”
The Nationals made it 4-0 with a long two-run homer to right-center off Verlander by Kila Ka’aihue, the left fielder.
Did Strasburg watch Verlander work at all from the bench?
“I can’t worry about what the other guy is doing,” he said.
Washington had grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third on a solo homer by center fielder Tony Gwynn, Jr., who hit an 0-2 pitch from Verlander over the fence in right.
“It is pretty special. His dad was my favorite player,” Strasburg, who played for the elder Gwynn at San Diego State, said of playing with the younger Gwynn.
Gwynn and Strasburg worked out this past offseason in California.
“I usually see him on TV,” said Gwynn, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies last season. “I appreciate his maturity on the mound.”
The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by catcher Wilson Ramos that scored shortstop Ian Desmond, who tripled with one out against Verlander.
Detroit got its first two runners on base in the third but Strasburg then fanned the next two batters and retired Ian Kinsler, the second baseman, to end the threat.
Among those in attendance in Lakeland was Davey Johnson, the Washington manager in 2013. He was making his first appearance at a Nationals’ spring training game since his last game with the team.
