Stephen Strasburg leaves game with irritation under shoulder blade

Alec Brzezinski

Stephen Strasburg leaves game with irritation under shoulder blade image

Nationals fans were left holding their breath when ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg left Tuesday's game vs. the Marlins after the third inning with an apparent injury to his pitching shoulder.

Strasburg and Nationals manager Matt Williams confirmed after the game that the problem is in the shoulder area.

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Nats catcher Wilson Ramos and other teammates met with Strasburg on the mound early in the outing. Later, Nationals Williams and trainer Lee Kuntz went out there, but Strasburg stayed in the game and finished the third inning.

Strasburg threw 64 pitches and allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeouts before leaving. Fellow starting pitcher Doug Fister pinch-hit for Strasburg to lead off the bottom of the third. Sammy Solis took over for Strasburg in the top of the fourth.

Strasburg took the loss as Washington fell 2-1.

Alec Brzezinski