WASHINGTON – Dallas Keuchel enjoyed being back on the mound after than a longer-than-expected wait between MLB starts. He would have been happier if a three-run lead hadn’t slipped away.
Keuchel labored through five innings in his Atlanta Braves debut Friday night, coughing up that early advantage as they lost 4-3 to the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
The Braves scored two runs in the second inning and another in the third against Washington starter Stephen Strasburg, but the Nationals rallied against Keuchel.
“It was really nice to get back at it,” Keuchel said. “The most frustrating part is getting three runs early off Strasburg. Being granted three runs early off a really, really good pitcher is something I’ve got to take advantage of, and I usually do.”
Keuchel, who couldn’t find a deal he wanted during a tough offseason for veteran free agents, signed a one-year, $13 million contract on July 7 with the Braves, who lead the National League’s East Division and hope he can help lead them to the postseason for the second straight year and perhaps a repeat of the division crown. The left-hander made two minor league starts before he was recalled Friday from Double-A Mississippi.