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LEADING OFF: Stress over Strasburg, buggy in Cleveland

Hours after he was activated from the disabled list, Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg left in the third inning of Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

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Strasburg, who will have an MRI on Thursday, lasted just 2 1/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves. The right-hander left after 2 1/3 innings, allowing a run on two hits.

Strasburg was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an elbow injury on August 22, but everyone involved – the team, Strasburg, the training staff, the reporters – insisted it was a precautionary stint on the DL. But, after the trainer went out to see Strasburg, Dusty Baker made a decision to take his starter out of the game and bring in left-handed reliever Sean Burnett, who gave up a RBI double to Adonis Garcia, which tied the game at one. Through Aug. 1, he was 15-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 133 2/3 innings.

The winning pitcher was Mat Latos (1-0), who got one out in the 11th.

He went on the disabled list July 27.

The Nationals (82-57) are 8 1/2 games ahead of the New York Mets in the National League East, while the Braves fell to 54-86.

When a hurler with that kind of history starts grimacing after each pitch, motions to the dugout, then walks off the field after a visit from the trainer with his glove over his mouth muttering God knows what to himself, it’s generally not a good sign.

Washington’s Danny Espinosa and Chris Heisey singled in the 10th before Anthony Rendon’s infield hit tied the game at 4. “He was cleared. He wasn’t trying to be a hero”.

Dodgers 3, Diamondbacks 1: Yasiel Puig homered and drove in another run, and the Dodgers beat Arizona to win their fifth straight and complete a three-game sweep.

He remained in the game and threw another pitch, this one an 84-mph slider that Foltynewicz fouled on a bunt attempt to strike out. He threw 42 pitches.

“I felt very bad for him”, catcher Ramos said.

NOTES: The game was delayed 57 minutes by the threat of rain and a light rain fell in the first inning. In his first start since August 17, he gave up a double to rookie Dansby Swanson leading off the third.

The team also returned from rehab and reinstated infielder Stephen Drew from the 15-day disabled list.

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Braves: RHP Julio Tehran (5-9, 3.01) starts when the Braves open a three-game series Friday against the Mets.

WASHINGTON DC- SEPTEMBER 07 Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park