WASHINGTON -- By the time Stephen Strasburg reached back and threw a 96 mph fastball for a strikeout to end the top of the seventh with his 106th pitch, his usual first-inning struggles seemed long ago -- and his day seemed over. When the next inning rolled around Wednesday, though, Nationals manager Matt Williams sent Strasburg to the mound to face the top of the Dodgers order in what would become a 3-2 victory for Washington, the first time this season the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft pitched into the eighth. "Hes our horse," Williams said, indicating hed like to keep his ace in deep into games more often. "We dont want to do that every time," Williams added. "But in a game like today, hes got the lead and (you) want to show confidence in him that were willing to send him back out there to protect that lead." Said Strasburg, who improved to 3-2 with a 3.42 ERA: "Thats the position I want to be in." After waiting through a rain delay of more than 1 1/2 hours to throw his first pitch, the righty did what hes done all season: laboured to get the first three outs, then been fairly dominant. This time, he gave up four consecutive singles, including run-scoring hits by Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig, during a 28-pitch first as Los Angeles went ahead 2-0. "Ive been trying not to go out there and give up a crooked number early," Strasburg said. "But you can give up one or two early and just keep it close and give your guys a chance to get back into the ballgame or get the lead." Hes allowed eight earned runs in his eight first innings in 2014, a 9.00 ERA. From the second inning on, its 2.29. "Hes as good as anybody on any given day. Weve also seen that anybody can get beat on any given day," Williams said. "We want to get him to that point where he can finish that eighth inning, too. Thats important for him." In all, Strasburg allowed two runs and seven hits -- all singles -- in 7 1-3 innings. He faced the minimum three batters in each of the second through fifth innings, and threw a total of 114 pitches. In the sixth, he put two men on, but got Andre Ethier on a grounder for the third out. In the eighth, Strasburg also put two on, then was replaced by lefty Jerry Blevins, who got Gonzalez to pop out in foul territory. Righty Tyler Clippard then came in to retire Puig, who missed the two previous games after crashing into an outfield fence. Rafael Soriano threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save in seven chances. Adam LaRoches two-run single off the top of the wall in right off Dan Haren (4-1), who was with the Nationals in 2013, tied the game in the bottom of the first. Washington edged ahead on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fifth from Wilson Ramos, playing his first game since opening day. Ramos earlier had a double on the first pitch hed faced in the majors since March 31, when he broke a bone in his left wrist against the Mets. He sat out 32 games. "Didnt take him long, did it? He pounded that ball," said LaRoche, who is hampered running the bases and on defence at first base by a left quad muscle problem. Ramos return is a boost for the Nationals. Theyre also eager to have right-hander Doug Fister come off the disabled list Friday to face the Oakland Athletics in his first start of the season. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have lost four of their past six games. "Were definitely," Haren said, "not playing to our potential." NOTES: Washington optioned 1B-OF Tyler Moore to Triple-A Syracuse to make room on the roster for Fister. ... After a day off, the Nationals open a three-game series at Oakland on Friday, with Fister on a pitch limit of about 100 while facing LHP Tommy Milone (0-3, 5.86). ... 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According to a report from ESPN, the Green Bay Packers have re-signed the cornerback to a four-year, $39 million deal with a $12. <a href="http://www.customastrosjersey.com/">Cheap Custom Astros Jersey</a>. The Toronto Maple Leafs were holding a news conference, so they got curious. It didnt take long for them to find out via social media that coach Randy Carlyle was coming back — with a two-year extension — and assistants Greg Cronin, Scott Gordon and Dave Farrish were being let go. <a href="http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom-cy-sneed-jersey-large-1276y.html">Cy Sneed Jersey</a>. Ramon, 30, played in a career-high 97 games with the Goldeyes in 2013. He also matched a career-high eight home runs and posted 52 RBI.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Charlotte Hornets rookie guard P.J. Hairston is scheduled to appear in Durham County Court next month on misdemeanour charges of assault and battery following an altercation at a pickup basketball game on Sunday. Paul Sherwin, the public information officer for the Durham County Sheriffs Office, said Hairston, 21, was issued a summons on Monday but will not be arrested. Hairston practiced with the Hornets on Monday, but did not talk to the media. He issued a statement through the team apologizing to the organization and its fans for "creating a distraction." "As this is now a legal matter, I cannot comment on the situation any further," Hairston said. "I am truly sorry for any embarrassment that I have caused." The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Hairstons court date is Aug. 8. "If two people get into a fight in North Carolina and there is no serious injury and is not witnessed by an officer, our hands are tied," Sherwin said. "We dont charge people in (unwitnessed) fistfights. They have to file a report with the magistrate office." Kentrell Barkley, a 6-5, 190-pound 17-year-old senior at North Durham High School, said in court documents Hairston "punched him twice in the head" during a heated basketball game at the Durham YMCA. Barkleys guardian Rich Phillips told The Associated Press that Barkley has a knot on his forehead from one punch. He said Barkley was also punched in the neck. Phillips said he has not hired an attorney and the incident isnt about money. "This is about doing the right thing and Kentrell feeling like he was violated," Phillips said. Hairston "did this kid wrong. Kentrell is 17 years old and what happened just isnt right." Phillips son, Vince, said he was at the Durham YMCA shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday when the game began to get heated. He said Hairston became annoyed after his teamm had lost several games in a row to Barkleys team.dddddddddddd Vince Phillips said Hairston dribbled down the court with his left hand and punched Barkley with his other in the head before driving to the basket. "Thats when KB came up to him and said, Whatd you do that for?" Phillips said. "Then P.J. cocks his arm back and hits KB in the neck." The two were quickly separated before Barkley could retaliate, according to Phillips. He said Hairston left the gymnasium before police arrived. Barkley, a regular at the Durham YMCA, agreed with his friends account of the story. "It took me by surprise," Barkley said. "It wasnt like me and P.J. had any beef with each other." Vince Phillips account of the incident differs from that of Hairstons agent Juan Morrow, who said late Sunday night there was a shoving match between the two players and Barkley "took a swing at P.J. and P.J. swung back." Earlier Monday Hairston said on Twitter, "Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see." The Hornets released a statement late Sunday night saying they were aware of the situation and looking into the matter. Forrest Perry, the executive director of the Durham YMCA, declined to comment on the altercation "In an effort to respect the privacy of the parties involved." Hairston was North Carolinas leading scorer as a sophomore in 2013 but did not play last year. He missed the first 10 games while the school worked to resolve eligibility questions for receiving improper benefits. The school decided in December it would not seek reinstatement from the NCAA for Hairston, thus ending his college career. Hairston, the 26th overall pick in last months NBA draft, played last season for the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League. ___ AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard in Durham, North Carolina, contributed to this report. <a href="http://www.chinawholesalejerseysnfl.com/">Wholesale Jerseys</a> ' ' '