HOUSTON -- The day after the Nationals lost a one-run game on a disputed call in the ninth inning, they did their own late-game damage to grind out a 4-1 win over the Astros on Thursday in their first extra-innings battle of the season.

“I’ve said it all year with this group: they’re relentless, they’re not going to give in,” said manager Dave Martinez. “... I’m proud of the way we came back and played the game.”

In a scoreless contest, Keibert Ruiz put the Nationals on the board with a solo home run in the ninth. The Astros, down to their final strike, countered with an RBI single by Yainer Diaz off Hunter Harvey.

The Nats capitalized with the automatic runner on second in the 10th inning. Pinch-hitter Ildemaro Vargas advanced CJ Abrams to third, and Lane Thomas drove Abrams home for the go-ahead run. From there, the Nats piled on the offense, scoring a total of three runs before Carl Edwards Jr. closed out the game.

Here are three things that stood out from the Nationals’ win.

Gore holds Houston scoreless
MacKenzie Gore set the tone by tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings on 95 pitches (51 strikes) with four hits, three walks and four strikeouts.

"He was one of the finer younger pitchers that we faced,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said of the 24-year-old lefty. “We saw him at Spring Training, and it seems like he’s gotten his control. He was throwing 95, 96 mph with a good slider and a good curveball. It was a pitchers' duel there ‘til the very end.”

While Gore said his 14th start of the season “wasn’t the prettiest outing that we’ve seen,” he fended off an Astros offense that had scored 11 runs in the previous two games.

“[I] just made enough pitches,” Gore said. “The last few outings, kind of been fighting the delivery, and it kind of was that way tonight. But zeros, no matter what they look like, they’re good.”

This was Gore’s second scoreless start this year and the first since May 12 against the Mets.

“Hopefully, we get a few more of those,” Gore said with a laugh.

Finnegan delivers in hometown debut
Kyle Finnegan had looked forward to this moment all his life, and -- at age 31 -- he accomplished it. Finnegan, who grew up in the Houston neighborhood of Kingwood, Texas, made his hometown debut in the eighth inning. The right-hander allowed one hit and struck out three in a scoreless frame.

“Definitely a little more adrenaline tonight,” he said. “It’s been a fun series being home, and I was definitely motivated to go out there and keep us in the game and get those three outs there in the eighth inning.”

Finnegan shut down the Astros in front of a loud cheering section. He estimated he got around 100 tickets during the three-game series.

“It’ll probably settle in for me here in a little bit,” he said. “I’m just kind of riding the high of the win and getting to see my family and everybody. I’m just happy that everybody enjoyed themselves this week and we were able to get a win today.”

No letting up
The Nationals knew the Astros’ bats could get hot at any time. So while their pitching staff kept Houston’s offense at bay, the hitters provided a cushion for the ‘pen.

After being out-homered, 6-0, in the first two games of the series, Ruiz connected on Washington’s first dinger at just the right time. Ruiz’s eighth homer of the year traveled 389 feet at 109.2 mph off Ryan Pressley. The catcher contributed an RBI single in the 10th inning, too.

“It always feels good to win,” said Ruiz. “I feel really good for the team. … We’ve been playing better and don’t give up, keep [our] heads up and keep playing hard.”

Seeing their teammates add runs on the scoreboard gave the relievers an edge to close out the win.

“Keep your foot on the gas pedal,” Finnegan said of the mood in the bullpen. “Don’t let up, don’t change anything. Just keep that momentum.”