Game 11: Astros at Nats, April 16, 2012

Stephen Strasburg sent five batters down K Street.
Getty Images/Greg Fiume

Stephen Strasburg earned his second win of the season, and the Nats took it to the Astros as they improved their record to 8-3.  For the second time in as many nights, the pitching staff struck out ten opposing batters, including their hundredth of the young season.  Henry Rodriguez earned his second save of the season.

First Inning: Strasburg finished the first inning with an HOV-2 by striking out Jed Lowrie and J. D. Martinez swinging.  Martinez became the hundredth visitor to K Street with this first trip.

Third Inning: Strasburg sat down Jordan Schafer looking.

Game 10: Reds at Nats, April 15, 2012

Series E-ZPass winner Drew Stubbs.
Getty Images/Rob Carr

The Nats were hard-luck losers on Jackie Robinson Day, the victims of some dubious calls early in the game.  They dropped the series finale 8-5 to the Reds to lower their record to 7-3.  Despite the loss, the pitching staff recorded double-digit Ks (not to mention the Ks that should have been).  The Traffic Report saw the congestion on K Street for the first time this season.

First Inning: Joey Votto got an early look at K Street when Ross Detwiler set him down in the first.

Fourth Inning: Detwiler fanned Jay Bruce to start the fourth.

Game 6: Nats at Mets, April 11, 2012

Series E-ZPass winner Jason Bay.
US Presswire/Debby Wong

The Nats won their second series of the young 2012 season, and the pitching staff threw their first shutout of the year when they blanked the New York Mets 4-0.  The Nats improved their record to 4-2 when Stephen Strasburg and three relievers combined for an otherworldly fifteen strikeouts and six HOV-2s.

First Inning: Ike Davis was the first Met to visit K Street when Strasburg rung him up looking.

Second Inning: Strasburg followed up that backwards K with an HOV-2 after he struck out both Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Ronny Cedeno looking.

Game 4: Nats at Mets, April 9, 2012

Edwin Jackson starts his season with two HOV-2s.
Getty Images/Jim McIsaac

After winning their series against the Chicago Cubs, the Nats moved on to New York to face off with the Mets.  Alas, the Mets struck first and won the series opener 4-3, dropping the Nats to 2-2.  Edwin Jackson got the start, but Henry Rodriguez took the loss when the Mets’ Daniel Murphy hit a walk-off single.  Ex-Nat and tattoo enthusiast Jon Rauch picked up the win.

First Inning: Jackson started strongly by earning an HOV-2 in the first inning of his Nats’ debut when he struck out Ike Davis and Jason Bay.

Second Inning: Jackson sent Kirk Nieuwenhuis down K Street.

Game 2: Nats at Cubs, April 7, 2012

Henry Rodriguez congratulated after his HOV-3.
AP

A second game, and a second win for the Nats as they downed the Chicago Cubs 7-4 and claimed their first series win of the 2012 season.  Gio Gonzalez grinned through his Nats debut, but Ryan Mattheus got the win over Kerry Wood.  Hot Rod Henry Rodriguez got the save, and the pitching staff sent thirteen Cubs down K Street.

First Inning: Gonzalez wasted no time by striking out Reed Johnson to record his first out as a Nat.

Second Inning: Gonzalez introduced his Cubs counterpart, Matt Garza, to K Street, and sent Johnson packing again to earn his first HOV-2.

Third Inning: Gonzalez added to his tally after he struck out Jeff Baker.