Last night Washington Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg was taunted (The Post) by a knowledgeable Cincinnati Reds fan (CSN Washington) as he left the mound after 5 2/3 innings and 3 runs. The now 22-year old’s response — “scoreboard.” Good answer Stasburg, good answer. Even better was that his teammates had given him 7 runs of support (another came later). Strasburg only struck out 7 and missed earning a quality start by an out. Now, Nats you can give other pitchers that kind of run support too.

Strasburg’s start yielded the Reds their first weeknight sellout in 4 years and shirts with his name were outselling Reds shirts 2 to 1 (Cincy Enquirer). So, ya there is something to that Strasburg is the most marketable pitcher (DC Sports Bog, The Post) thing. Even Pete Rose, who’d run through fire in a gasoline suit to play bet on baseball, to Great American Ballpark. I thought that was against the rules.*

Strasburg also had an amusing sacrifice bunt late in his outing. The ball traveled about 4 feet. He got tagged out without so much as a step to first, but the Reds did not have 3rd base covered. Smart!

Drew Storen got out of Strasburg’s jam in the 6th, striking out Drew Stubbs. In the 7th, he loaded the bases with no outs, but only one runner scored after Sean Burnett and then Tyler Clippard came in. Clippard wound up getting tagged for a run in the 8th though and Matt Capps had to come in 1/3 of an inning early to get save #24.

The Nats bats were hot last night. Cristian Guzman homered and so did Willie Harris who somehow raised his total to 5 for the season. Guzman’s OBP is up .342, shocking I know. Ian Desmond knocked in 2 runs in the 4-run sixth inning.

*I am glad that Rose got banned from Hall of Fame consideration for gambling and think that since he lied about for 15 years, he should stay banned. I am all for him being able to go to games though as long as he wears that awful Reds cap; he deserves to be embarrassed.