Stephen Strasburg has rare home run & shutout combo to beat Marlins

Stephen Strasburg had quite a day for the Washington Nationals on Wednesday afternoon. Not only did the right-hander pitch a shutout, but he also hit a home run to beat the Miami Marlins, 4-0.

Strasburg is just the 24th pitcher in the last 38 seasons to hit a home run and pitch a shutout of at least nine innings, and the first since Madison Bumgarner did so for the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 16, 2015.

That list of pitchers includes all-time greats like Hall of Famers Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Phil Niekro, and Clayton Kershaw, but there are also some journeymen who accomplished the feat as well, like Floyd Youmans, Jeff D`Amico and Jordan Lyles.

The home run came leading off the fifth inning against Marlins starter Adam Conley for the first run of the game.

Strasburg, for good measure, also singled in the seventh.

After the game, the Nationals were pretty exuberant about their pitcher’s performance on Wednesday, especially since the scorching-hot Giancarlo Stanton — with 30 home runs in July and August combined — was 0-for-4 against Strasburg.

The win completed a three-game sweep for the Nationals, who have won four straight and own a 15-game lead over Miami in the National League East, with just 30 games to play.

Strasburg has been been stellar since his return from the disabled list, missing four weeks with a nerve impingement in his right elbow. In three starts in August, the right-hander has allowed just two runs in 21 innings — an 0.86 ERA — with 23 strikeouts and just three walks.