Capitalization
Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore combined for 5-9 with four runs scored, a pairing as formidable as Valerie Harper and Mary Tyler Moore, stars of a smash sitcom that spun off three more shows: “Rhoda,” “Phyllis,” and “Lou Grant.” Harper’s two-run bomb in the fourth inning was very close to hitting the baseball on the Jordan’s Furniture sign.
Many National League pitchers have problems with American League lineups but not Stephen Strasburg. The phenom strung together a dazzling 6 innings: 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, and 13 strikeouts.
Dustin Pedroia struck out twice against Strasburg; the second baseman looked grimly determined to get a hit off this particular twirler. In the sixth Pedroia lined a single to Moore, probably muttering “he ain’t got shit” as he got to the sack. But Strasburg indeed is outstanding, reminiscent of Justin Verlander and Nolan Ryan but with better control than either.
Kevin Youkilis was ejected in the sixth after having the honor of being Strasburg’s 13th strikeout. He disagreed with home plate umpire Doug Eddings’s call and the replay showed that the pitch was low but still in the zone (at least how Ameeker maps the zone). I think many hitters facing Strasburg would think of a creative way to ride pine when he was on the bump.
In the eighth Adrian Gonzalez knocked in a home run deep to dead center. It was his 200th career home run but would have been his 201st if Xavier Nady didn’t make a circus catch of Gonzalez’s fly ball to right in the third frame. Gonzalez has averaged 30 homers a season but this was only the slugger’s fifth circuit clout of the season.
| Game 58: June 8, 2012 | ||
 Washington Nationals33-23 |
7 |
W: Stephen Strasburg (7-1) S: Tyler Clippard (6) |
| 2B: Danny Espinosa – 2 (11), Bryce Harper (8), Ian Desmond (16), Tyler Moore (1), Ryan Zimmerman (10) HR: Harper (6) | ||
| Boston Red Sox 29-29 |
4 |
L: Felix Doubront (6-3) |
| 2B: Mike Aviles (15), Adrian Gonzalez (22), Daniel Nava (12) HR: Gonzalez (5) | ||
