Gray's masterclass comes with a side of runs
This browser does not support the video element.
NEW YORK -- The first zero came off the board with a run in the second inning. Another followed in the third, and three more were posted in the sixth.
Josiah Gray entered Tuesday’s series opener against the Mets as the only pitcher in baseball to make at least three starts this season without receiving a run of support while pitching.
The Nationals ended that dry spell with a 5-0 shutout victory at Citi Field. Gray earned his first win of the season (1-4) by racking up nine strikeouts, scattering four hits and issuing one walk across six scoreless innings.
“I know these guys have been clawing away to try to get me run support the whole year,” Gray said. “To see them do it early, and then to see them do it late there is a lot of fun. For them to go out and score five runs is awesome. I know they’re going to continue to do it.”
Washington had been outscored, 11-1, in Gray’s previous four starts facing the Braves, Rockies, Angels and Orioles. The team had not plated a run since the ninth inning of Gray’s season debut on April 1 when batterymate Keibert Ruiz homered in the final frame against Atlanta.
This browser does not support the video element.
On Tuesday night, Ruiz got the offense going again. The catcher belted his second home run of the year in the second inning off José Butto, sending a fastball a Statcast-projected 414 feet over the wall in center field.
Was that part of the game plan between Gray and Ruiz (3-for-4 on the night), who were traded to the Nationals from the Dodgers together in 2021?
“I wished every time he pitched I got a homer,” Ruiz smiled.
“I wish I had a part in that,” Gray echoed with a laugh. “But no, that’s all him. And the work he’s putting in, it’s paying off.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Joey Meneses (3-for-5 with 2 RBIs) continued to gain momentum by plating Luis García from second base with a line-drive RBI single to center the next inning to give the Nats a 2-0 lead.
Before Gray pitched his final frame of the evening in the sixth, the Nationals put the game out of reach with a three-run top of the inning. Victor Robles and Alex Call got on base with back-to-back singles, setting the stage for García to connect on a two-run double to right-center field. Meneses capped the run support for Gray with an RBI single to drive in García for a second time.
This browser does not support the video element.
“Those guys are going out there, trying every day,” Gray said. “In the couple matchups I’ve had, [Kyle] Freeland then [Shohei] Ohtani, [Dean] Kremer -- just tough outings. The guys are working hard. It’s just, I’ve got to go out there and do what I can do to keep the team in the game. … I knew we were going to break through soon.”
Since allowing five runs to Atlanta in his season debut, Gray has posted a 1.59 ERA in his last four starts. Tuesday marked his third career start with six scoreless frames, and he was two shy of tying his career high of 11 strikeouts (July 6, 2022, at Philadelphia).
“I think he surprised them a lot just throwing his fastball down for strikes,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He threw a lot of first-pitch strikes, and then he used his cutter and his slider from that. … What a great day.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Led by Gray and three scoreless innings of relief from Mason Thompson, the Nationals shut out the Mets for the first time since June 18, 2021. It was their first such win at Citi Field since April 4, 2019.
“He threw a lot of quality pitches,” Mets left fielder Jeff McNeil said of Gray. “I don’t think our approach was very good. We swung at a lot of bad pitches; it’s tough to hit that way. He is throwing a little cutter, which is a little different, but other than that, I think he just located better.”
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Gray had been the eighth pitcher in Major League history to receive one or fewer runs of support in his first four starts to a season -- last by Dustin Moseley with the 2011 Padres. While he got run support by his teammates, he had plenty of support in the stands, too.
This browser does not support the video element.
The New Rochelle, N.Y., native and Le Moyne College alum knows of 20 friends and family who were at the game and expects there were even more at the park.
“It’s that much more special. To get my first win here in New York -- on the season and in New York as well -- is pretty cool and definitely one I’m going to enjoy,” Gray said.