Stephen Strasburg struck out 13 and the Washington Nationals came back to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2. Strasburg got out of a jam in the sixth after he walked 3 in a row. I hope he’s okay.

Here is a fun exchange from the top of the sixth inning:

Me: Roger Bernadina just homered!

Wife: Who? Who?

/wilnieves’d

Wife:That’s a name I haven’t heard in a month of Sundays.

Adam LaRoche hit another homer against his former team, a two-run shot. Ryan Zimmerman walked right after Bernadina’s homer.

Rick Ankiel homered in the ninth to add an insurance run. I think closer Henry Rodriguez appreciated it.

Here is the Strasburg K reel, which probably won’t work until sometime on Sunday. Again, MLB just needs to let us embed them outright.

The Nats salvaged the series and can still take the series with a 2-game sweep next week. I hope they do, because I want to win another Primanti Bros. sammich (still have to claim the first one) and not owe a half-smoke.

I like to think the Nats boarded a sternwheeler in front of the ballpark and are sailing down the Ohio River for their series with the Cincinnati Reds. I think they’d be to about Marietta by now, right?

MORE

THOMAS BOSWELL: Bryce Harper makes an immediate impact in a variety of ways for Nationals – The Post
I love watching Harper play, but what is the team’s record since he arrived? He’s certainly helped win, but the team is struggling a bit. Or at least it seems they are. #firstplacenatsproblems

MLB Network makes the comparison between Harper and Mickey Mantle (DC Sports Bog, The Post):

I’ll have more to say about the Mantle comparison later in the season.

Johnson tries to boost Nats’ spirits during meeting – CSN Washington
TEAM MEETING FTW 1!!!1!!!1