Gray proves mettle with another 7-inning start

MIAMI -- Though the final result of the Nationals' series opener, a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Marlins at loanDepot park, left the club still searching for its 19th win of the season, it was a big moment for righty Josiah Gray.

For his second straight start and just the third time in his career, Gray completed seven innings. And this time, he did it without his best stuff. Despite some early trouble and a costly fielding error, Gray somehow cruised through those seven frames while allowing only two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks.

"I definitely had to grind through it," Gray said. "I know I didn't have my best stuff tonight. I just wanted to work with the defense a little bit more tonight, so getting some ground balls, getting some early contact allowed me to get through seven innings, but I didn't have my best stuff tonight. So being able to get through seven is a positive."

Gray has proven himself over his past eight starts after a rough beginning to this season. He allowed three homers on April 1, but he has allowed just two since then. There was no threat of that on Tuesday; Gray got nine groundouts vs. three flyouts.

One of the key moments for Gray came in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and power hitter Jorge Soler at the plate, Gray battled for eight pitches to induce an inning-ending groundout. Even without being at the top of his game, Gray was able to control his emotions and stay within himself to avoid the inning spiraling. It enabled the Nats to carry momentum into the eighth, when they took a 4-2 lead.

"He's thrown the ball really well, [and] he's got an unbelievable game plan and routine," manager Dave Martinez said. "He wants to battle. He wants to pitch deep into games. And you can see that once again tonight.

“I think he's learned in these high-leverage situations to control the heartbeat and get through it. Like I said, today was a big moment for him. He got through it again. With a big hitter up there, [Gray] got him to hit a ground ball to shortstop, got us out of a big inning and kept us in the game."

Gray wasn't the only National to have a big day. Whether at the plate or on the dirt, Washington's infield seemed at home. First baseman Dominic Smith went 2-for-4 with a go-ahead two-out, two-run single. Third baseman Jeimer Candelario went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk. But in some ways, that was overshadowed by key plays from second baseman Luis García to limit the damage behind Gray.

Oh, and it was also García's 23rd birthday. Though he didn't get a homer for his birthday, he got a new addition to his highlight reel.

In the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs and a runner on first base, Marlins catcher Nick Fortes hit a grounder up the middle. García ranged behind second base to snag the ball before making a near-perfect jump throw to catch Fortes at first base and end the inning.

García had three errors in 33 games at second base last season, plus 13 errors in 59 games at shortstop. This year, García has zero errors through 37 games at second. A lot of that growth and development goes to the work García put in over the offseason to make himself better suited for the level of movement necessary to make big plays as a middle infielder. Plus, he has Candelario and Smith on the corners helping him, as well as shortstop CJ Abrams.

"He's definitely matured over the last year at second base; he feels very comfortable over there," Martinez said. "He's moving really well, and I attribute that to his offseason. [He was] really doing some agility, using his legs a lot better and moving a lot better. His first step has been really good. Paying attention to detail. I’ve said this before: The pitch clock has helped our young players because they have to be engaged and have to be ready at all times."

"This whole team has just been awesome," Smith said. "We're a younger squad, but we're very energetic, and a lot of guys are very hungry and they love to learn and to compete. And obviously sharing the right slide with Luis, it's fun. We keep each other on our toes, and we make sure we're locked in and engaged every pitch."