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Strasburg helps Nats rout Padres

Apr 26, 2014 - 7:10 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Stephen Strasburg fanned 11 over seven scoreless frames and the Washington Nationals routed the San Diego Padres, 11-1, in the second contest of a four-game set.

Strasburg (2-2) was not fazed by a rain delay of nearly an hour at the start. He walked two batters, while allowing seven hits.

"First-pitch strikes are key for him," said Washington manager Matt Williams. "He had good command of his fastball down and away and he mixed in his offspeed pitches, but the key tonight was his fastball,"

Anthony Rendon went 4-for-5 with two RBI and Bryce Harper had two hits and four RBI. Ian Desmond and Jose Lobaton each picked up three hits and pair of RBI and Adam LaRoche drove in one for Washington, which bounced back after going 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position on Thursday.

Nick Hundley went 2-for-4 and drove in the Padres' lone run. Robbie Erlin (1-3) was shelled for eight runs on 13 hits over 5 1/3 innings.

"Everything was elevated and I worked behind (in the count)," said Erlin. "Putting those two together put me in a hole."

Washington wasted no time getting on the board, putting up two runs in the bottom of the first. Rendon singled and LaRoche worked a two-out walk before Desmond ripped a double to right-center. LaRoche moved to third on the double and Harper followed with a chopper up the middle to plate LaRoche.

In the third inning, Rendon kept the Nationals rolling with a leadoff single. LaRoche walked two batters later and Desmond singled to center to load the bases. Harper then ripped a triple to right-center.

Lobaton singled to plate Harper and spot Washington a 6-0 lead after three. Harper jammed his hand sliding into third and exited the game an inning later. He was replaced by Nate McLouth.

Washington struck again in the sixth with another pair. Denard Span hit a leadoff single and two batters later Jayson Werth singled before a LaRoche double brought Span in to score. Werth then scored on a Desmond groundout.

The Nationals kept their foot on the gas pedal, notching two more in the seventh. Lobaton doubled and pinch-hitter Zach Walters walked before Rendon doubled to right-center to plate both runners. The Nationals led 10-0 after seven.

San Diego finally got on the board in the eighth with two outs with three consecutive singles. Jedd Gyorko and pinch-hitter Rene Rivera set up Hundley for his RBI base hit.

Washington picked up one more in the eighth when Lobaton grounded into a force play, scoring Desmond.

Game Notes

Washington is now 10-1 when scoring four or more runs ... LaRoche has hit safely in nine straight games ... The Nationals were 7-for-17 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base ... San Diego went 2-for-5 with RISP and stranded nine.