SEATTLE -- What a difference a week makes. Almost a week after getting hit hard by the Giants, right-hander Stephen Strasburg had one of his best starts of the season as the Nationals downed the Mariners, 3-1, at Safeco Field on Saturday night.With the victory, the Nationals picked up their 77th victory of the season are now seven games ahead of the Braves in the National League East. Atlanta was blanked by the Marlins, 4-0, at Turner Field earlier in the day.Strasburg opened by getting five ground-ball out outs in the first three innings, and didn't pick up his first strikeout until the third inning. 
But it was a big one.Seattle had runners on second third with two outs, but Strasburg struck out Robinson Cano to end the threat.After that punchout, Strasburg picked up seven more strikeouts on the way to picking up his 11th victory of the season. For good measure, Strasburg set a Nationals record by striking out 209 batters in a season.Strasburg left the game with two outs in the eighth inning after allowing a solo home run to Dustin Ackley.Strasburg received the bulk of his run support in the first inning. After Denard Span reached base on a two-base error by center fielder Austin Jackson and Anthony Rendon grounded out, Jayson Werth hit a monster home run over the left center-field wall off Mariners left-hander Roenis Elias to give Washington a 2-0 lead.Four innings later, the Nationals picked up their final run of the game, when Jose Lobaton scored from first on a double by Rendon.Matt Thornton finished the eighth for the Nats, while Rafael Soriano closed out the ninth for his 30th save.Bill Ladson / MLB.com
But it was a big one.Seattle had runners on second third with two outs, but Strasburg struck out Robinson Cano to end the threat.After that punchout, Strasburg picked up seven more strikeouts on the way to picking up his 11th victory of the season. For good measure, Strasburg set a Nationals record by striking out 209 batters in a season.Strasburg left the game with two outs in the eighth inning after allowing a solo home run to Dustin Ackley.Strasburg received the bulk of his run support in the first inning. After Denard Span reached base on a two-base error by center fielder Austin Jackson and Anthony Rendon grounded out, Jayson Werth hit a monster home run over the left center-field wall off Mariners left-hander Roenis Elias to give Washington a 2-0 lead.Four innings later, the Nationals picked up their final run of the game, when Jose Lobaton scored from first on a double by Rendon.Matt Thornton finished the eighth for the Nats, while Rafael Soriano closed out the ninth for his 30th save.Bill Ladson / MLB.com
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