It's always a thrill for a player to make it to the Big Leagues and face the team he grew up cheering for.
However, Stephen Strasburg was trying a little too hard to impress the Padres on Friday night. The former San Diego State and West Hills High School pitcher threw seven shutout innings, striking out 11, to help the Nationals to an 11-1 win over the Padres in Washington, D.C.
Padres starter Robbie Erlin had trouble locating his fastball and got roughed up, allowing eight runs on 13 hits in 5.1 innings.
Washington outfielder Bryce Harper drove in four of those runs with a single and a triple, but had the leave the game with a thumb injury after sliding safely in the 3rd base. He'll be examined again over the weekend to see how serious it is.
The Padres did have one bright spot. Infielder Jace Peterson, just called up from AA-San Antonio to replace Chase Headley (who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a calf strain), singled off Strasburg on the first pitch he saw.
Making it even sweeter ... Peterson's mom and dad were in the stands to see it happen.
Game three of the series is Saturday afternoon. The Padres send their ace, Andrew Cashner, to the mound against Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark.
