WASHINGTON – Stephen Strasburg pitched six innings for his second win of the season, to lead the Washington Nationals to a 6-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday.
Strasburg looked nearly unhittable for five innings, allowing just three singles, but the Astros got to him in the sixth for two runs and three hits.
Strasburg (2-0) walked one and struck out five. He hasn't allowed a home run in 50 1-3 innings — since Aug. 15, 2010. His ERA rose from 0.69 to 1.42.
Steve Lombardozzi had three singles and a two-run double in the sixth off Kyle Weiland (0-2) that gave Washington a 4-2 lead. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a two-run single.
Weiland started for the seventh time in his major league career and is winless in five decisions.
After Strasburg left, Sean Burnett got two outs in the seventh, Ryan Mattheus allowed an earned run in the eighth, Tom Gorzelanny finished the eighth, and Henry Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his second save.
In the third, Ian Desmond doubled to left with one out. Lombardozzi bunted, but Weiland threw the ball away, and Desmond scored on the error.
Wilson Ramos hit his first home run with two outs in the fourth.
In the sixth, Jordan Schafer and Jed Lowrie led off with singles. On the ninth pitch of his at-bat, J.D. Martinez walked to load the bases. Carlos Lee flied out to center fielder Rick Ankiel, but Schafer elected not to attempt scoring. Ankiel's threw home was perfect.
After Strasburg struck out Travis Buck, Chris Johnson hit a two-run single to tie the score.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ankiel singled with one out, and with two outs, Roger Bernadina, batting for Strasburg walked. Desmond walked to load the bases, and Lombardozzi, who was starting because manager Davey Johnson wanted to rest Danny Espinosa, slapped a double to left, and Zimmerman followed with the two-run double.
Weiland pitched 5 2-3 innings, allowing six runs and 10 hits.
The Astros scored their final run in the eighth on a single to Travis Buck and a triple by Johnson — his third hit of the game. They batted 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
NOTES: Strasburg singled in the fourth inning. He's now 2 for 31 as a major league hitter. ... Nationals RHP Chien-Ming Wang will throw a simulated game in Viera, Fla., on Wednesday, and if that goes well, he'll pitch in a minor league game. Wang has been on the disabled list with a left hamstring injury. ... TV evangelist Joel Osteen threw out the first pitch. He'll be conducting a service at Nationals Park on Apr. 28. ... The Astros have scored at least three runs in every game. ... Houston LHP Wandy Rodriguez (0-1, 2.38 ERA) is scheduled to throw against Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 3.38 ERA) on Tuesday night.
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