All-Star Irvin? Jake beats Mets in best start of career

WASHINGTON -- It had been two seasons since a Nationals pitcher went deeper than seven innings in a game.

On Thursday, second-year starter Jake Irvin delivered eight scoreless frames with just one hit in the Nationals’ 1-0 win over the Mets in their annual July Fourth matinee. He also struck out eight and allowed only one walk.

“[Pitching eight innings] means a heck of a lot more on the Fourth of July, I can tell you that,” said Irvin. “It was a cool accomplishment. It was a fun day. Riley [Adams] and I were on the same page all day -- big props to him, he called a fantastic game.”

It was the most innings pitched by a Nats hurler since Patrick Corbin’s eight on June 28, 2022. Irvin became the first Nationals pitcher to dazzle with eight-plus scoreless innings and no more than one hit since Gio Gonzalez on July 31, 2017.

Among all pitchers, Irvin is only the fourth this season to go eight-plus innings with one hit or fewer allowed. He joins only Tobias Myers of the Brewers and Ronel Blanco of the Astros to accomplish the feat in a scoreless outing.

"For him to go out there and do what he did today, especially an early game like today, it says a lot about his character,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He got himself ready, he was ready to go and he put the team on his back."

Irvin was so efficient -- throwing just 99 pitches (70 strikes) -- that the Nationals bullpen did not begin warming up until Derek Law in the eighth inning. Irvin stifled the Mets with a pitch mix of 40 curveballs, 38 fastballs (which reached 96.4 mph), 18 sinkers, two cutters and one slider.

"The fastball was explosive,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “He attacked. The life on his fastball, especially at the top, the way he commanded it, and then the way he used the breaking ball kept us off balance, too.”

Irvin continued his case for All-Star consideration, dropping his ERA to 2.80 in 18 starts (1.70 with 34 strikeouts in his last six outings). Following Thursday’s performance, he ranked fifth in ERA, sixth in WHIP (1.00) and sixth in opponent’s batting average (.212) among National League pitchers.

Irvin joined Max Scherzer (2015) as the only other pitcher in Nationals history (2005-present) to pitch at least six innings while allowing no more than one hit three times in a season.

“He’s an All-Star, man,” Jesse Winker said. “The guy prepares every single day. ... It was a privilege to watch him. ”

Martinez and Irvin were in agreement when Irvin’s afternoon ended after retiring the side in the eighth. Irvin walked off the field to a roaring ovation and waved his arms in excitement.

“Make no mistake, would have loved the ninth,” said Irvin. “But after you do something like that, you kind of give the manager no choice.”

Irvin had given the Nats everything he had, but the offense still had yet to score a run. Seeing Irvin’s performance from the dugout, Winker was energized when he was called upon to pinch-hit for Harold Ramírez in the bottom of the eighth inning. The lefty went yard off righty reliever Adrian Houser for his fifth career pinch-hit home run to put the Nats on the board. Winker donned a stars and stripes top hat and shirt in celebration.

“It’s so inspiring,” Winker said of Irvin. “You just want to get him a run.”

A one-run lead set the stage for Law to make a special appearance -- the veteran had decided in advance he was going to take the bullpen cart with the American flag for the holiday. He earned his first save since Sept. 16, 2023.

“You can argue he’s an All-Star,” said Law. “It’s impressive, honestly. Day in and day out, you know he’s going to give you a strong six, most likely, seven, eight maybe. It’s just kind of a nice relief for the bullpen when guys like that come around in the group and you’re like, 'All right, we’ve just got to get ready for this part of the order, because he’s going to be able to handle probably three times around.'”