Irvin's lengthy outing saves 'pen for series finale

BOSTON -- It was just over a year ago that Jake Irvin made his Major League debut on May 3. That night, he threw 81 pitches in 4 1/3 frames against the Cubs.

On Saturday, appearing in his 32nd big-league start, Irvin set a career high in innings pitched with seven in his first matchup with the Red Sox. He did so while tying his season-best six strikeouts and not issuing a walk in 103 pitches thrown.

“The curveball was really good, but just trying to challenge guys, get ahead early and then make better pitches in plus-counts,” Irvin said following the Nationals’ 4-2 loss at Fenway Park. “I think just being able to kind of keep guys off-balance, throwing different pitches in every count was really successful today.”

Irvin surpassed his previous mark of 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 12, 2023, versus the Athletics. He tied left-hander Mitchell Parker (No. 21 prospect) for the Nationals’ longest outing this season.

“It’s something that you’ve got to want in that situation,” said Irvin. “It’s a team game, and being able to save those guys [the bullpen] the next couple days is hopefully going to win us a couple ball games there. My job is to throw strikes, get deep and that was the goal today.”

Irvin also reached 100 pitches for the sixth time in his career and the third time in his last four starts. He delivered 42 fastballs, 40 curveballs, 12 cutters and nine sinkers to catcher Keibert Ruiz. Irvin allowed a two-out, solo home run to Wilyer Abreu off a sinker in the third inning.

“He was mixing his pitches up, but he was attacking the strike zone really well,” said manager Dave Martinez. “When he does that and he’s around the strike zone, it puts hitters in swing mode. Today, he was really good.”

Irvin exited in a 2-2 tie, and the Nationals were preparing for the bullpen to cover the eighth and ninth innings. Instead, the ‘pen only pitched one frame.

With two outs and a runner on second, left-hander Robert Garcia intentionally walked Tyler O’Neill to face lefty-hitting Rafael Devers. After Garcia took a 2-0 lead in the count, Devers fouled off four consecutive pitches and then sent a 96 mph fastball to left field for a go-ahead, two-run double.

“It’s a tied ball game; I thought that was the right matchup,” said Martinez. “It’s a good battle up there. He fouled a couple of good, tough pitches off and Raffy just got the best of him today. But Garcia’s throwing the ball good. He’s our left-handed guy, so we decided to go that route. It didn’t work out today, but I think I’d do it again tomorrow in a tie ball game.”

Even though right-hander Hunter Harvey was warming up, Martinez said the plan was for Harvey to face Vaughn Grissom in the next at-bat if the bases had been loaded.

“As a manager, you got to kind of pick your poison,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “... He had him with two strikes, he’s one pitch away from getting out of the inning. You’re managing that inning, you’re managing the whole game, you’re managing the series. … I bet if he has to do it again, he’ll do it again because I know Dave. There’s a lot of conviction behind it, and I understand the reason.”

With the lengthy outing by Irvin, the Nationals will have a preserved bullpen on Sunday looking to clinch the Interleague series before moving on to Chicago and Philadelphia.

“We’ve got a really long road trip ahead, and I know that a lot of those guys have thrown quite a bit this year,” said Irvin. “I’m trying to do what I can to save those guys’ arms a little bit and get as deep into the ball game as possible.”