But Strasburg lasted just two innings before leaving the shortest outing of his career.
Strasburg was behind two balls, no strikes when he grimaced after throwing a changeup.
"It's just a little tight back there, but it is what it is, " Strasburg said.
Unraveling, Strasburg walked another batter and gave up Starlin Castro's single to load the bases.
Strasburg, backing up third base on the play, pumped his right fist to celebrate.
Strasburg (1-5) hasn't won since opening day, April 1, against the lowly Miami Marlins.
That means Matt Harvey will pitch against Washington's Stephen Strasburg when New York returns home on Friday.
Strasburg followed with his first walk, to No. 8 hitter Darwin Barney, he of the .160 batting average.
How about the Washington Nationals, who lost rookie pitching sensation Stephen Strasburg in August to a serious arm injury?
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Strasburg then struck out Uggla on five pitches, but his night was over.
The Nats have said Strasburg will be shut down for the season between the 160 and 180 inning mark.
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On Friday night, Ike Davis and Lucas Duda each homered twice as the Mets topped Strasburg and the Nationals 7-1.
"With Strasburg going out, I thought we had a better chance, but Stammen came in and shut us down, " Freeman said.
Instead of backing up home plate on the play, Strasburg ambled around on the infield grass and looked into the dugout.
Harvey and Strasburg each stand 6-foot-4, and their stature as right-handed flamethrowers loomed large as many around the majors touted this matchup.
Harvey and Strasburg each stand 6-foot-4, and their stature as young flamethrowers loomed large as many around the majors touted this matchup.
Strasburg brings some extra fans, but Harper, the everyday guy, plays lead.
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With Stephen Strasburg all clear for a full year atop the rotation, this could be another memorable summer in the nation's capital.
All four runs were unearned, and Strasburg's ERA actually dipped to 3.10.
Strasburg allowed four runs, two unearned, and five hits in six innings.
"It's something where, the last few starts, I'd feel it warming up and I'd go out there and wouldn't feel anything, " Strasburg said.
His fifth homer, a solo shot in the second, came off Strasburg, and his RBI single in the seventh came off Tyler Clippard.
He worried about Harvey overthrowing last month, when he showed this sort of intensity before his outing against Washington Nationals flamethrower Stephen Strasburg.
Harvey gave up just one hit through five innings, a sliced double by Strasburg, before running into his only jam in the seventh.
Strasburg got his first hit of the season, a double in the third inning that also was Washington's first hit of the game.
Strasburg mentioned that one of the pitchers he watched while growing up in the San Diego area was Jake Peavy of the Padres.
But Freeman credited Craig Stammen with setting the tone for the game after replacing Strasburg, who strained his right oblique, to start the third.
Harvey allowed one run in seven innings against the Nationals, out-dueling Strasburg in perhaps the most electric game of the season at Citi Field.
The Washington Nationals didn't call star pitcher Stephen Strasburg to the majors until June of his rookie year to keep his arbitration clock frozen.
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Harvey and Strasburg paired off for the first time in their careers, with many projecting the celebrated 24-year-olds will duel far into the future.
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