Message #336759

[JMUalumni]

THE STRASBURG WATCH

Keeping track of SDSU All-America pitcher Stephen Strasburg this season:

Yesterday: At USD

His line: 8 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 18 strikeouts.

Result: Win, 5-3

For the season: 3-0 record, 1.77 ERA, 20 1/3 innings, 13 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned runs, 4 walks, 45 strikeouts

Next start: Friday, March 13 at 6 p.m. vs. UNLV at Tony Gwynn Stadium

San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg, as has become his custom, piled up the strikeouts in yesterday's game at USD.

The Aztecs All-American struck out 18 in eight innings against the Toreros, the third time in three starts Strasburg has reached double-digit strikeouts. Strasburg now has 45 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings.

But it was a strike thrown from right field by SDSU's Cory Vaughn that was perhaps the most important throw in the Aztecs' 5-3 win at the Toreros'Cunningham Stadium.

Strasburg opened the game with two quick strikeouts, employing a fastball that touched 99 mph. A few moments before USD's Steven Chatwood struck out, an Aztecs fan shouted: “Show bunt! It's your only chance!”

A voice countered from the Toreros' side in the overflow crowd of 1,117 two innings later.

That was after No. 11-ranked USD (7-4) sent a shiver through Strasburg when catcher Nick McCoy turned a fastball around and rocketed it over the left-field fence to give USD a 2-1 lead. It was only the second home run allowed by Strasburg as a collegian.

Buoyed by the big hit, a USD fan shouted: “This isn't the Mountain West! The closest you're getting to Omaha is Utah!”

Said McCoy: “In college baseball, momentum is huge, and that definitely gave us some momentum.

“But,” McCoy cautioned, “I never thought the job was done.”

SDSU pitching coach Rusty Filter visited Strasburg immediately thereafter to settle down his pitcher, but Strasburg walked the next hitter, Kevin Muno.

Muno stole second before James Meador lined a two-out single to right. Vaughn came up throwing and his strike to catcher Erik Castro nailed Muno at the plate to end the inning.

“Amazing,” said Strasburg. “That was a big play right there. When it comes time, he gets it done.”

Instead of a 3-1 USD lead and a runner in scoring position at second base, the Aztecs (5-5) were out of the inning down just a run.

“That was huge,” said SDSU coach Tony Gwynn. “Morale was a little down on this side because they had not seen that happen (to Strasburg).

“Vaughny came up, made a great throw, and then Strassy kept us in there.”

An Aztecs fan in the stands held up a sign with a big red K on it each time Strasburg recorded a strikeout. The sign would block the view of those behind the fan over the next five innings.

Strasburg (3-0) struck out the last two hitters in the fourth and the last two hitters in the fifth. He struck out the side in the sixth, seventh and eighth, although he did give up a single with two out in the seventh, ending a run of seven straight strikeouts.

That gave the Aztecs time to rally, which they did with two runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Pat Colwell and a single by Brandon Decker.

SDSU made it 5-2 on Castro's RBI single in the ninth. The three-run bulge was tested in the bottom of the inning when USD rallied for a run against Addison Reed and had the potential tying runs at first and third before the SDSU closer struck out pinch hitter Bryan Haar to end the game.

The four-game series continues tonight at 6 at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/06/1s6azbase223858-strasburg-treats-fans-special-k-pe/?zIndex=62732