Gray shines on, off mound: 'He's a joy'

WASHINGTON -- Starting right-hander Josiah Gray isn’t just a young pitcher who limits hits; he connects on them, too.

Gray, a former two-way player in college, recorded his first Major League hit in the Nats’ 8-5 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday at Nationals Park. He sent a 93.8 mph sinker from José Berríos into right field for a line-drive single in the second inning of the Interleague series finale.

“It felt great,” Gray said. “I’ll have that ball forever now. It’ll be something I’m able to tell a story about a couple years down the road.”

With his knock, the rookie became one of only seven pitchers all season to connect on a hit for the Nationals, joining Joe Ross, Jon Lester, Patrick Corbin, Paolo Espino, Stephen Strasburg and Austin Voth.

“I did say that he’s [had] one more hit than Max Scherzer, which is awesome, this year,” manager Dave Martinez said.

On the mound, Gray tossed 87 pitches (55 strikes) over six innings as his ERA dropped to 2.86. He struck out four and gave up two runs (homers to Teoscar Hernández and Marcus Semien) on five hits and a walk. All seven of his earned runs allowed with the Nationals this season have come off solo home runs.

“He kept us in the ballgame,” Martinez said. “He was real good. I love watching him go out there and pitch and compete. He’s got a great plan. Him and Riley [Adams] worked good together today. He gets through innings [without] a high pitch count, which is great to see.”

Gray was tested in his final inning, and he navigated through it without a mound visit. After fanning Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., he allowed a double to Hernández and a single to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in back-to-back plate appearances. Gray worked a seven-pitch at-bat against Breyvic Valera to induce a popup to third base.

“It’s been great -- I think they’re making me go out there and make pitches for myself,” Gray said. “Obviously, whenever they feel the need, they’ll come out and talk to me and give me a quick breather or a quick pep talk. … [I had] no thoughts about a mound visit, no thoughts about anything other than getting that hitter out and keeping us with the lead in that sixth inning.”

Just as Toronto went yard twice against Gray, the home run balls worked in Washington's favor on Wednesday. Slugger Juan Soto provided Gray with early offensive support when he belted his 20th homer of the season on a three-run shot in the first inning. During a comeback seventh frame, Josh Bell also hit his 20th home run of the year -- a go-ahead three-run blast -- off former Nationals closer Brad Hand, and Carter Kieboom followed with a solo shot.

After losing seven in a row, the Nats swept the Blue Jays in a two-game series at home. They head to Milwaukee to play three vs. an NL Central foe before moving on to Miami, where Gray will be in line to make his fifth start with Washington.

“He’s a joy to be around,” Martinez said. “And he wants to continue to get better.”