Ashcraft's Stare-down Of Yanks Sets 'tone' For Reds
WASHINGTON -- — Jake Irvin allowed just one hit and issued one walk in eight innings, Jesse Winker hit a pinch-hit home run and the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 1-0 on Thursday in the traditional 11 a.m. Fourth of July game in the nation’s capital.
Irvin (7-6) pumped his chest and gestured to the crowd for applause after striking out Tyrone Taylor on his 99th pitch and walking off the mound following the longest outing of his major league career. That was Irvin's eighth strikeout, and he faced just one batter over the minimum, retiring the final 17 batters he faced.
“It was a fun day, and (catcher Riley Adams) and I were on the same page all day,” Irvin said. "Being able to pitch on this holiday, it’s something truly special to me, really near and dear to my heart and I loved it, had a lot of fun.”
The Mets were blanked for the seventh time this season and were held to only one hit in a game for the first time since a loss to Milwaukee on opening day, something manager Carlos Mendoza chalked up to Irvin's masterful performance.
"We had a hard time catching up to his fastball," Mendoza said. “I thought we were late at times for his fastball, and then the way he used the breaking ball kept us off balance, so we couldn’t get much going.”
Winker made sure Irvin left with the victory by hitting a curveball from Adrian Houser 407 feet to right-center field. It was his fifth career pinch-hit home run and his 10th of any kind this season.
“He was biting at the bit, I can tell you that," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "He said, ‘I’ll be ready.’ I said, ‘Oh, I know you’re going to be ready.’ But to come up here and do what he did, it’s awesome. Big win. Big win for us.”
Houser (1-5) became the latest Mets reliever to give up a big hit as the beleaguered bullpen slogs on without suspended closer Edwin Díaz.
Before Winker's home run, the game was a pitcher's duel — one New York wasted for left-handed starter Jose Quintana, who allowed four hits, walked three and struck out one over seven scoreless innings. He gave the Mets the kind of start they needed given the amount of work the relievers have had to put in with Díaz unavailable.
“It means a lot, especially the state of the bullpen," Quinta said. “If you can save one, two innings (for) the bullpen, that’s really good for us.”
Derek Law tossed a perfect ninth inning for his first save of the season and the Nationals' second consecutive win, while the Mets fell back below .500 at 42-43.
“It happens," Mendoza said. "Just got to turn the page and be ready for another series.”
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mets: RHP Kodai Senga (shoulder/triceps) is scheduled to throw roughly 50 pitches in his next minor league rehab start next week, which Mendoza said will likely be Tuesday with Triple-A Syracuse.
UP NEXT
Mets: Unless rain derails it, the series opener Friday at Pittsburgh features RHP Luis Severino (5-2, 3.42 ERA) against Pirates rookie RHP Paul Skenes (4-0, 2.06).
Nationals: Continue their homestand Friday against St. Louis, with LHP Patrick Corbin (1-8, 5.49) starting against Cardinals RHP Sonny Gray (9-5, 2.98).
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
PqVqpE3 SihkT2R0z9L4vGa858ZMX1 A4MdhS0Xnjd1 LYNbmevbhK4Lsxd3rDzFaQEFQjRF68ToaDg4nGTOfT Lwa2C3mSpADlqdAVilyA Preview%2520Image ?auto=compress%2Cformat&h=450&w=800&fit=min&s=6baf6c763b99bf0819b4da567b9b2b3e1295822 Wp11824996 3d 2024 Effect Illustration 600w 2376798357 Wp12034423 New Year 2023 4k BWxrammUmZqaraWkpJRqZmdlrWZpaWU 3D Wallpaper For Mobile 2023 2024 New Year 550@1@n Pc 2k D6bf3867f7f680a2e2673850b34ef75d June 2023 Calendar Desktop Wallpaper Abstract Wp12187396 74631ccfd65cb96c0f85053ebd7e704d Uwp3370339 6d8a922e75fd902bf69bd982d358c53b 95f7eae91797b6ee754ac3fd956c11e4 98de841276a0ca1f845306a20b786aa0 Fgraphic 2024 Wallpaper Hd 2024 Screenshot January Calendar 2023 Desktop Wallpaper 0m2suD Pngtree New Year Light Effect 2023 Background Starlight Gorgeous Image 1469885 Pngtree 2024 Golden Editable 3d Text Effect Vector Png Image 9117494 S March 2023 Desktop 2 8807638 Wp13305364 Wp11764325 Maxresdefault Uwp3370331 Wxl New Year 2023 4k Digital 88255 3D Wallpaper 2023 73SpIkbEsTmFx !w700wpUwp3370338 D46496cca0b45eea7ae453dfb4eaabdb Uwp3370319