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.
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The Nationals right-hander, who had been on the DL since August 22, left his start Wednesday against the Braves with one out in the third inning after striking out Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz. Strasburg winced, walked around the mound and then threw another pitch, retiring Foltynewicz. He was locating his pitches very well.
Before going on the disabled list, Strasburg allowed 19 runs over his final three starts, including nine over 1 2/3 innings in a loss to Colorado his last time out.
Strasburg is 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against Atlanta this season. During the course of that run, he signed a seven-year, $175 million extension with the Nationals, despite his agent Scott Boras having a long history of taking most of his marquee players to free agency.
Strasburg had Tommy John surgery back in 2010.
Daniel Murphy tied it up (and collected his 53rd multi-hit game) with a bases-loaded, two-run single in the Nationals’ half of the seventh, 3-3. Bryce Harper stepped in next with runners on second and third and took an intentional walk to load them up for Wilson Ramos, who lined a walk-off single to left-center.
Mat Latos (1-0 with Washington), the 10th Nationals pitcher, got one out for the win.
Atlanta’s Jace Peterson and Washington’s Anthony Rendon traded RBI singles in the 10th.
Swanson homered for the second straight game, this time sending one over the fence following Tuesday night’s inside-the-park home run.
NOTES: The game was delayed 57 minutes by the threat of rain and a light rain fell in the first inning.
The team also returned from rehab and reinstated infielder Stephen Drew from the 15-day disabled list.
Braves: RHP Julio Tehran (5-9, 3.01) starts when the Braves open a three-game series Friday against the Mets. He was hit hard in his last start against the Braves, giving up six runs in 5.1 innings as Foltynewicz got the win.
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Nationals: RHP A.J. Cole (1-1, 3.86) makes his fourth start of the season when the Nationals host the Phillies on Thursday.
