NEW YORK (AP) – Stephen Strasburg stayed undefeated, winning a marquee pitching matchup against an ailing Noah Syndergaard by tossing seven innings of two-hit ball Friday night that sent the Washington Nationals to a 3-1 victory over the banged-up New York Mets. After Syndergaard’s exit, it’s unlikely he’s going to pitch in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic.
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Long after prized prospect Lucas Giolito stumbled in his second major league start, the frustrated Washington Nationals left Citi Field still angry at the umpires. “Hopefully he’ll be fine”, Collins said, adding that when the season resumes Friday in Philadelphia, “I’m sure that first day he will go out and throw on the side to see how he feels”. “I’m excited about the opportunity”.
Strasburg is also the first pitcher to reach the All-Star Break with double-digit wins and no losses since Dave McNally was 13-0 prior to the All-Star Game for the Baltimore Orioles in 1969.
“Coming in here, we knew it was a big series”, Baker said. The Nationals say Strasburg, who is from San Diego, plans to attend the game.
Strasburg ended the first half going in the right direction. Strasburg tossed 7 sparking innings, allowing just 2 hits and 3 walks, yielding just 1 run over 7 innings to earn the decision and lower his season ERA to 2.62.
Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and the surging New York Mets rallied past Washington 9-7 on Thursday night in the back-and-forth opener of a pivotal four-game series between the top teams in the NL East.
Mets catcher Rene Rivera visited the mound and then went back behind the plate before Collins and assistant trainer Brian Chicklo came out of the dugout, drawing groans from the crowd.
“The first pitch, it didn’t come out the same”, Werth said.
“To me, that’s a clean slide”. “I’m just trying to do my part, keep it close and give the guys an opportunity to win it”. I’ve thrown a lot of innings so far. “He’s got a exhausted arm and (his) stuff went away”, manager Terry Collins said. “We have to step up and take charge”. After a short discussion, Syndergaard – who allowed three runs, four hits and three walks while striking out five – walked off the field with Ramirez and immediately disappeared into the clubhouse.
Syndergaard’s case was most puzzling.
Less than 24 hours later, the Mets could breathe a sigh of relief as doctors confirmed what Syndergaard said on Friday night, that he has no apparent injury and that his arm is just exhausted.
“It all boils down to a little shoulder fatigue”, Syndergaard said.
Cespedes left Friday’s game because of a right quadriceps strain, Syndergaard was pulled from Friday’s start in the fifth inning because of arm fatigue, and Fowler is on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury.
NOTES: Rain delayed the first pitch by 37 minutes….
All-Star additions • Bartolo Colon and Max Scherzer are headed to the All-Star Game, picked as replacements for other pitchers originally selected for the National League team.
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Cespedes and Fowler were named to the National League starting lineup by the fans’ vote.
