Stephen Strasburg was as advertised in his highly anticipated Arizona Fall League debut for the Phoenix Desert Dogs. On Friday, the 21-year old right-hander pitched 3.1 scoreless innings gave up two hits, one walk and struck out two. Strasburg threw 50 pitches, 32 for strikes against the Scottsdale Scorpions. Box
Jose Tabata (Pirates) led off the game for Scottsdale by grounding out to shortstop. Strasburg then struck out Brandon Crawford (Giants) and Domonic Brown (Phillies) to retire the side. Strausburg’s main pitches in college were his fastball and slider. At his Thursday press conference he told reporters that the changeup has always been there but in college he was able to handle hitters without using it much. Now, playing against better hitters, you can expect to see more of his changeup. Both Crawford and Brown struck out swinging on changeups. “I don’t know the percentage (of changeups), but I definitely threw a few,” said Strasburg.
Strasburg walked Brandon Allen (Diamondbacks) to lead off the second inning but Allen was erased on the next pitch when Buster Posey (Giants) grounded into a double play. Steve Susdorf (Phillies) then grounded out to first base to end the inning.
In the third inning, Darin Holcomb (Rockies) grounded out back to the pitcher. Thomas Neal followed with a solid line-single to left. Chase D’Arnaud (Pirates) then bounced to shortstop for yet another double play.
Tabata led off the fourth with a line-single to centerfield. Crawford grounded to shortstop, forcing Tabata and second. Immediately after the out was recorded, Strasburg was replaced on the mound by Eddie Gamboa (Orioles). Even before Phoenix Manger Gary Cathcart reached the mound, some in the crowd of 1,138 started yelling “more” and “no, don’t take him out.”
Strasburg left the game with a 5-0 lead and the Desert Dogs went on to win, 7-4. Under a special Arizona Fall League rule, Strasburg qualified to be the winning pitcher even though he didn’t go the normally required five innings. In 2007 the AFL adopted baseball’s scoring rule (10.17c) for non-championship competition such as the All-Star Game, waiving the five inning requirement. Starting pitchers rarely go five innings in the AFL.
If Strasburg pitches on a regular five-day rotation, his next start would be on Wednesday, October 21 when the Desert Dogs host the Peoria Javelinas at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
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