It was a scorching Saturday afternoon in most parts of the United States. And it was especially hot in Atlanta, where the first-place Nationals and ace Stephen Strasburg fell 7-5 to the Braves.
Strasburg made it through just three innings, exiting before the bottom of the fourth due to dehydration brought on by record 106-degree temperatures and poor all-around air quality in northwest Georgia.
The 23-year-old right-hander wound up allowing three earned runs on four walks and two hits. He spoke to CSNWashington.com’s Mark Zuckerman after the loss was wrapped up:
“Obviously I want to go out there and compete, and I expected a lot more of myself,” said Strasburg. “By no means was I going out there thinking I wasn’t prepared for it. I did everything I could to be ready for it as far as hydrating and everything. I’ve just got to learn from it.”
Strasburg still has a sparkling 2.81 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 122/27 K/BB ratio in 93 innings this season.
