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White Sox 2, Nationals 1, 11 Innings: Strasburg Delivers Another Great Performance In Losing Effort
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Stephen Strasburg fanned 10 more batters and set a major league record in the process, but an infield single by Alex Rios scored Mark Kotsay with the go-ahead run in the 11th inning as the Chicago White Sox squeezed past Washington, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game series.
President Barack Obama, a diehard White Sox fan, was on hand to witness history as Strasburg set the mark for most strikeouts through his first three games with 32. J.R. Richard held the old mark with 29 for Houston in 1971.
The 21-year-old Strasburg was removed after seven innings. The powerful right- hander allowed four hits and a run without walking a batter. He threw 85 pitches, 59 for strikes.
White Sox starter Gavin Floyd was also impressive, also yielding four hits and a run, while walking a batter and fanning five over eight innings.
Kotsay came up as a pinch-hitter to start the 11th inning and promptly singled to right field off Drew Storen (2-1). He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Juan Pierre and ran to third on a groundout from Omar Vizquel. Rios then smoked a ball down the left-field line, but third baseman Ryan Zimmerman made a diving stop. The throw across the diamond though was barely over the glove of first baseman Adam Dunn as the go-ahead run came to the plate.
J.J. Putz (2-2) retired the side in order in the 10th for the win, and Bobby Jenks did the same in the 11th for his 14th save.
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