Nats' Strasburg improves to 2-0

CLEVELAND - Stephen Strasburg simply shrugged.

Two starts, two wins, 22 strikeouts and millions of fascinated fans. One dazzling debut - and a pretty fair encore.

It's been quite a start for baseball's 21-year-old sensation. But while America buzzes about him, this Nationals treasure isn't buying the hype.

"Just another week, you know?" Strasburg said.

Hardly.

Yesterday, Washington's pitching powerhouse learned that life on the road isn't always smooth. Coming off a 14-strikeout opening act, Strasburg had more trouble with Cleveland's mound than Indians hitters during his second major league start, leading the Nationals to a 9-4 win.

Strasburg (2-0) allowed just two hits, one a leadoff homer in the second inning by Travis Hafner, who turned on one of the righthander's 100 mph fastballs. He struck out eight and walked five before leaving to a chorus of boos in the sixth as Washington ended Cleveland's four-game winning streak.

On hand was another pitching prodigy, 91-year-old Hall of Famer Bob Feller, who fanned 15 in his first major league start as a 17-year-old in 1936.

"It's real refreshing to see anyone with such talent come into the league," said Feller, who sat in his usual seat in the press box. "He'll have good days and bad, but he'll have a lot more good than bad throwing 100 mph."

Adam Dunn homered and scored three runs for the Nationals.