Washington Nationals news and notes: Jake Irvin solid before and after rain delay, Nats beat Rangers, 8-3

Irvin steps up:

After being skipped a turn in Washington’s rotation and working with his mechanics to fix a few things with Nationals pitching coach Jim Hickey, Jake Irvin, who returned to the starting lineup in four games, made a notable improvement. showed.

in 22 ²⁄₃ In the innings he pitched on those trips, the 26-year-old righthander posted a 3.18 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 6 walks, 17 kicks, and a .241/.290/.325 batting average.

“It was really good,” manager Davey Martinez said of Ervin’s post-skip run. Cincinnati Reds He threw an efficient 89 pitches last week.

“Not just the rest, but the work he put in in between to straighten out his lower body. I thought I was trying to make him understand and he was really, really, really good, he throws the ball down the face, he throws it north and he throws it south, but he’s really, really good at it. And kudos to him for allowing Hickey to talk to him about it and work on it, and like I said, he’s pitching really good.”

And his efficiency in the fourth of four games was a big step in the heart of the Nats captain.

“Absolutely. Absolutely. It was amazing,” Martinez said.

“He worked on it positively. He threw strikes. His curve ball was really good and he could throw for strikes when he needed to, but today that’s a step in the right direction for him. I thought so, and it really happened.”

“I’m just trying to keep us in the ball game, trying to give them a chance to win every time,” Ervin said. Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASNin the post-start scrum, conveys the humility befitting the real Crash Davis.

“For sure, that’s the biggest thing. I’ve moved forward each time.”

Brad Mills – USA TODAY Sports

Another step forward on the fifth start after the skipper turn. Irvin got off to a clean start as the Knots extended his lead to 8-0 before returning to the mound in the top of the fourth after being delayed by rain for 1 hour and 17 minutes, but struggled at first. He allowed the first two walks and a two-run home run in the first two games, but finished the inning with three of the following four batters retiring.

Irvin hit a two-out double in the fifth inning, but on that day, he threw 79 pitches and gave up 5 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs for 8 wins and 3 losses. home team victory.

“Jake set the tone,” Martinez said at the post-match press conference.

“We talked about how much he’s improved. He hit the strike zone again today.

“His fastball was great, his curve ball was great. So when he throws strikes, he’s good, really good.”

It was the fifth consecutive game appearance and the sixth of the last seven games for a rookie starter to allow three or fewer runs.

Brad Mills – USA TODAY Sports

“Right now it’s all about throwing strikes, moving forward and looking ahead,” Martinez said.

“So that’s been the key for him. He’s doing well because he’s staying focused and just getting to the next hitter without letting a big inning. We give him time off.” We talked a lot about things and trying to work out some issues for him, and what he did in those 10-12 days helped shape him into who he is today. .”

Martinez and his staff had to make a difficult decision during the extended rain postponement, but were informed of a restart time just before calling the end to Ervin.

“We kind of have a system,” Martinez explained. “We wake the players up every 20 minutes and let them throw about 8-10 pitches in the bullpen. After about an hour and 10 minutes, we found out we had to pull the plug. We were on the brink of that. It was standing.He got up twice.It was exactly like 20 minutes.They called me and they said it would start from here in about 20 minutes.He was good.He decided to withdraw. He was determined. He felt good and did a great job.”

“I basically feel like I’ve pitched a complete game,” Irvin told reporters. Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASNhe scored 17 cold strikes in the afternoon after picking up just five swing strikes.

“Being trapped mentally for too long is just as exhausting as it is physically. I’m going to get some rest tonight.”

“The last ball he threw,” Martinez recalled. “He came to the dugout and said, ‘I’m done.’ I said, ‘Oh, I’m done.’ But what a great job he did! ”