Luka, Giannis To Square Off In Olympic Qualifying
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
A4d1103ac0ec47ee0ec97e2ca91ec7e5 Windsor Smith Black Sneakers For Women 65I I8W002 WHITE 80f81e14 P0 1Ridin Fixedratio 20230904103717 Windsor Smith Sneakers 0112000883 Black Crazesneakersinwhite 50 0 5 3 ?v=15717171842878541A4d4b07dff2a5b9ef1275715ba54668b W3 11220404th 12 R 1925882399 11215864ae 12 F Richsneakersinwhiterosegold 48 E33d5bcd0b1beb66748c8dc072bb3f12 D37d959cdc7bf1b2a98632e36ada5fa0 2 164 544 1500x ?v=1580951961WINDSOR SMITH WHITE RACERR SNEAKERS 24e1fe6e 325a 44d2 B9d4 367551ddfc15 1024x1024 ?v=1621706490IMG 2486 1000x1000 1 1.1 E9ad2a0c C21d 42e4 B867 2dfa36ba151c ?v=1580951961023271f24cd25b7c1a4e0380b08cc4db 6372b8c4d46389aad18b7960ca5779d9 Hers Windsor Smith Shoes 1 M3 WLux WOMENS2 IMG 8804 65cb27eafd62055acecf7930fc9f5274 8b4f41b00472f51090bb5d5caa862877 Adb3a4f04a39c43ac7d0b5e5968da266 11220404th 12 D 11830285gl 12 F 0e3fd891e858bed1569f99f5156a679f