MLB Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals Spring Training
Washington Nationals left fielder Josh Willingham (16) rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam in the 1st inning against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon (58) at Nationals Park in Washington on April 4, 2009 in the final Spring Training game prior to opening day. (UPI Photo/Mark Goldman)
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WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- Stephen Strasburg set a franchise record with 14 strikeouts in his major league debut Tuesday, leading the Washington Nationals to a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh.
The highly anticipated bow of the 2009 first-overall draft pick was everything the Nationals had hoped for and then some, as Strasburg used a blazing, tailing fastball and an assortment of devastating off-speed pitches to baffle the Pirates.
A sellout crowd at Nationals Park cheered on Strasburg (1-0) as he finished his initial outing with a flourish, fanning all three batters in the seventh. He ended up allowing two runs on four hits, walking none and striking out 14, a club record.
Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham socked back-to-back homers in the sixth and Ryan Zimmerman added a solo shot for Washington, which won for just the second time in seven games.
Matt Capps pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to record his major leagues-best 19th save.
Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens (1-2) was touched for four runs on nine hits over five innings and Delwyn Young hit a two-run homer in the Pirates' defeat. |
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SEATTLE, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Trevor Cahill went seven innings Tuesday to lead the Oakland Athletics to a 7-0 win over Seattle.
OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Eighth-inning home runs by Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton Wednesday rallied Texas to a 3-2 win over Oakland and moved the Rangers closer to a division title.
OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A three-hit performance over eight innings by Doug Fister Friday earned Detroit its first division title in 24 years with a 3-1 win over Oakland.
OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Howie Kendrick hit a pair of two-run homers Tuesday that carried the Los Angeles Angels past Oakland 6-3.
OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Josh Willingham belted a three-run homer in the first inning Monday and the Oakland Athletics cruised to a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
BOSTON, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Scott Sizemore and Josh Willingham both had two-run homers in a six-run fourth Friday, propelling the Oakland A's to a 15-5 win over Boston.
OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Rich Harden struck out 11 in seven innings Friday and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter to bring the Oakland A's a 2-0 victory over Toronto.
OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Josh Willingham had a solo home run and Coco Crisp doubled in two runs Tuesday to lead the Oakland A's to an 8-4 win over Baltimore.
TORONTO, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Rich Harden held Toronto to one run over seven innings and Josh Willingham homered Tuesday, sending the Oakland A's to a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Josh Willingham cracked a go-ahead homer in the 10th inning Sunday, boosting the Oakland Athletics to a 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay.
