Murray: I Want To Play Forever; Injuries Too Tough
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
World Map Poster Travel 918kSu7p7iL. AC UF894,1000 QL80 Img 4152 1046x1046 World Map Colourful Continents Graphic Art Ee9205914827d9ef1e67e98e24c469f5 World Map Tapestry High Definition Map Fabric Wall Hanging Decor Watercolor Map Letter Polyester Table Cover 56ca192d89323aeaa181cd159d585bcd Il Fullxfull.2332406788 7zym Spoonflower Fabric Research Poster 2 Scaled 02e08075f77b0b4d9fa97850ec9675e1 D66549 076460a22bb97dc51c202e9988e7c94a Door Size World Map Watercolor Like Artistic Poster For Home Original Imaez8z9zzrc6myk ?q=70Other Maps World In Watercolours On Canvas Graphic Art B5908af14b6386c4966404383e739d7c Other Maps Magnificent World Graphic Art Vintage Poster World Map No 4 70x50cm 9a871a549ca3aab8ec36a1be6c776714 Tapestry Color World Map Printed Polyester Fabric Wall Hanging Decor Picnic Blanket Mural Bohemia Beach Towel 91ba6d3132202220468ac2792c26c5b0 CW8011 Maps World Map 00 Extra Large Vintage World Map Peel And Stick Wall Poster 48 X 72 Original Imaey3zgp5gcc72v ?q=7053b2420f0bebdcb7a06a2e51f1736318 GUEST 758abe40 0f53 4547 B261 6a62242c1b7f61s9CPmVb6L. SL500 M2122 Watercolor Map Of The World Map S Copy C5d73fb0f29697dd3afdde31b7e8140c 0fd1a5c058453a11535b217658b36b27 365443ba82e5196d5a5c0708be5c458e 0c093bf70a3327e7ffe09a09c7ee1a34 937494aeba33a608cdeb5bdd57201484 166bccbb8bffd6c3e6746853bcf44217 Il 1140xN.1565450681 Gu7b C51ccb127596955d1920a16d4094812f 4318e82a5b2808c2c857b1bc9a9bcb00
Murray: I Want To Play Forever; Injuries Too Tough
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
