You know it’s a good day when Stephen Strasburg makes the start and doesn’t really figure into the storyline – other than his throwing error in the third inning that led to two unearned runs. But give the bullpen credit again. Tyler Clippard pitched two scoreless innings, Sean Burnett continued his torrid stretch and Drew Storen made it look easy closing out the ninth inning.

Start with Clippard, who gave up one hit in two innings and struck out three batters. He had a tough stretch around the All-Star break and is no longer used exclusively as the set-up man. But he also hasn’t allowed a run in five appearances this month – and only two hits total. Yes, that’s only 5 1/3 innings, but it’s still a confidence boost for a guy who had been so reliable earlier this season. Clippard earned his first win since June 4 and his team-best ninth overall. The Vulture is back!

Meanwhile, Burnett lowered his ERA to 2.72 with a scoreless eighth inning. We wrote the other day about Burnett’s improvement against left-handed batters recently – a key part of any lefty’s job in the bullpen. In his last 11 1/3 innings Burnett has allowed all of two earned runs on five hits with four walks and 13 strikeouts.

“The difference in the last month is that he’s really been effective against lefties,” said Nats manager Jim Riggleman. “If that’s really what we’re going to get right there – that type of pitching – that’s pretty special because he’s very good against righties…That’s big and I feel pretty confident that he can pitch in any situation – middle of the game, late in the game or get the last out in the ninth.”

Can’t end without talking about Strasburg, of course. Not a perfect afternoon by any means. His botched throw to Adam Dunn on a second-inning dribbler in front of the mound ended up costing him two runs. But he also struck out seven batters in five innings and walked none. Strasburg lowered his ERA to 2.97 even though he didn’t earn a decision. He’s now up to 63 2/3 big-league innings with 86 strikeouts and 17 walks in 11 starts. And he would have gone longer on Sunday except that it was still just his second start after spending time on the disabled list and the protest delayed the game for a bit.

“If [Strasburg] had never experienced any [shoulder] tightness or whatever in those previous outings – that delay wasn’t that long,” Riggleman said. “It was just I was only going to let him go another 12, 15 pitches anyway. So if this was down the road further or if the [shoulder] issue hadn’t come up a few weeks ago I would have certainly sent him back out there today.”

Strasburg said the ball was moving in his hand when he barehanded it. He also had more time than he thought, but when he slowed his arm the throw sailed on him. It pretty much had to do that to get over Dunn’s massive frame. It was just one bad moment, though. Strasburg made some adjustments after a shaky outing against the Marlins last Tuesday, using his change-up a good 15 times against Arizona. He used that pitch just a few times against Florida.

“I really have to get that going,” Strasburg said. “It’s a good pitch. Guys have had a tough time handling it all year. So I really just had trust with my stuff. Last outing in Florida I was really trying to find it the whole time instead of just going out there and letting it come to me.”

Give credit to AP reporter Pete Kerzel, who when the postgame interview with Strasburg ended threw out one more pertinent question: What were his thoughts on fellow Boras Corp. client Bryce Harper, the No. pick in June’s draft? No one knows better than Strasburg what it’s like waiting for the MLB signing deadline tick away with your immediate future in the balance. That comes up at midnight on Monday as contract negotiations heat up.

“I don’t have any advice for [Harper],” Strasburg said. “It’s his decision. If he wants to play here, he’s going to play here. He doesn’t need advice from anyone to confirm his views. If he doesn’t want to play here, then we don’t want him here, bottom line.”

Nats Notes

» Drew Storen earned his second major-league save for Washington with a perfect ninth inning.

» It was a cloudy, dreary afternoon with temperatures in the mid-70s. But it was still by far the smallest crowd to see a Strasburg start at 21,695. 

» More good minor-league news for the Nats as right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann continues to progress from Tommy John surgery. He pitched five innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, allowing one run on five hits. Zimmermann has a .75 ERA in 12 innings at Triple-A and appears close to making his return to the big leagues. He underwent the elbow surgery last August.

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