Expectations from Stephen Strasburg were sky high before the match. After the match no one could complain that those expectations were not achieved. Wearing the Washington Nationals jersey for the first time, Strasburg did what no one could believe. On his debut match for them, Strasburg set the Washington Nationals strikeout record. He surpassed all expectations attached to his first major league start.
Strasburg struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates in seven innings, setting a new Nationals record on one of the most momentous days since baseball returned to the District. "It was just a great night for baseball in Washington," Manager Jim Riggleman said.
Strasburg powered Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the beleaguered Pirates. Strasburg struck out all nine Pirates in the starting lineup and struck out the final seven batters he faced. He hit 100 mph on the radar gun twice, allowed two runs on four hits -- including a two-run home run by Delwyn Young in the fourth inning.
He walked none to create a new milestone in Washington sports history. No pitcher in baseball history had ever struck out 14 or more batters while using fewer than 96 pitches. Strasburg needed 94. "There were definitely a little bit of nerves," Strasburg later said. "I thought there were going to be more nerves than there was."
