Euro 2024: Schedule, How To Watch, Squads, Groups, Reaction
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
35de6a518cef18a841a9aa492acf3298 B7de027cc48158f4ccad6ef904103b22 D13dc3302e90c4b415b640d7842004a8 2023 2024 A2 Academic Mid Year Wall.webp2023 2024 A3 Academic Mid Year Wall.webp2024 Month To View Desk Calendar Home Office.webp2024 Design Trends Hero Image 1536x1024 30 Best Modern Office Decor Ideas 4823 1657677826880.webp2b776860f07d91cb10809a4ce718f487 3588dc86badddfa5be40a3c2a7a9e1cd 4 Office Space And Office Interior Design Ideas For 2022 3624c3f185d 5e60f559a596f78af8cb400dec9ac57c Terracotta Boho 1 Pinterest Brix Coworking Madison WI 683x1024 Db3484078a2563cb8fe04f14a6b33b1a 74579f8808cc11877c4132189bd5189e Office Trends 2023dd 4d90d9f9b9ee928a4a5beacb016bb69a F6488d72e7903ac5266608e21c0e02f8 Dcdca30409a5f731a25b63213d0fb334 9c5f4c4b562bef014e7627586df763a1 C61922427bfae1f0abea152261898ea9 953d8dd30deac71099f7b77c72263575 0dc1bf258bc92c8b74edddd86c7d0b9d 9d576b610662e74804bc8e4b0cd6b636 Office Trends 2023e Office Trends 2023fhj Office Interior Design Trends 2023 Annie L 7ed7c9 A4671429a32843b8bd80f1c8fe864ed3~mv2 Maxresdefault F096218ceb7d2f6874766a3b9385f270 19041327f4e89264400dba6116b06e56 A3e70912e24a6a16f15952b40e211002 9f7fb9371f6880b3a6f65c2aa1ce53a8 Home Office 2023d 8c3c14b85af972b38d85597fc7187eec