When Nationals Park first opened, the stadium wasn't exactly filled to capacity. The President of the United States in attendance for the stadiums first game couldn't compare to the pandemonium at the ballpark tonight.
Steven Strasburg made what might have been the most hyped major league debut in the league's history. Ever since he was drafted last June, all that anyone around baseball could talk about was when this kid would get to the big leagues. The 21 year-old started off with the club for 40 days in spring training, then began his major league career in double and triple A. Amassing a 1.30 ERA in the minors, the Nationals knew it was time he join the big league ranks.
Tonight, Strasburg delivered. His control was on point, except for one change up that sunk a little in the zone enough for the Pirates to take him deep for a two run homer. However, that was the only blemish on his stat sheet. He went seven innings, giving up four hits, no walks, two earned runs, and striking out fourteen batters. It was the first time since 1969 that a major league pitcher has struck out as many as 14 batters, without walking a single batter.
With a fastball that was once clocked at 103mph on the gun at Nationals Park(in his 7th and final inning), sharp breaking slurve, filthy change-up that can be as much as a 20mph drop off from his fastball( avg 98mph fastball, 78mph change-up), and a sinker to go along with those three out pitches, it looks like a promising start to the hopefully long-lasting career of baseball's new phenom;Jeeezus!
