SAN DIEGO — Stephen Strasburg was one strike away from getting out of the first inning of his first start in almost a month when switch-hitter Yangervis Solarte drove a fastball into the right-field seats for a two-run home run.
That was enough to carry the Padres past Strasburg and the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Saturday night.
“I know he throws a lot of breaking pitches but sometimes he likes to surprise you. I was ready for that when he threw it,” Solarte said through an interpreter.
“He looked good,” Solarte added. “He had all his pitches, especially his curveball, working off of that fastball.