Rookie starting pitcher Jake Irvin hit a total of 91 pitches in the 6th inning with 18 pitches and the bases loaded with two outs. Washington Nationals manager Davey Martinez headed to the mound but didn’t signal the bullpen. Instead, he told the 26-year-old pitcher he was going to take the last out, tapped him in the flank and returned to the dugout, leaving Irvin to face left-handed outfielder Jake Cave.Even if Martinez was warming up lefty Miguel A. Ferrer in the bullpen,).
“I just went out there and said, ‘I’m here to give you a breather.’ , said an 11-run barrage into the bullpen was all it took to end a three-game midfield game.D.C.’s Philadelphia Phillies
“He was thrilled that I let him stay there,” Martinez said. Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASN.
“And I said, ‘You got this. Just make a pitch. we’re going to get out of there. He did, and he did really well. ”
Irvin threw a low curve and was called the first strike, got the second on the inside curve of the cave, then went upstairs and went from 79.4 to 82.5 to 94.1 with a higher fastball for the Philadelphia hitter. kicked out. Strike and out number 3 zone.
“As soon as you see him walk up the stairs, the thought goes through your head, ‘I want this moment,'” Irvin said. “I know it’s a little strain on our bullpen. The advantage of winning games is that the bullpen back end needs a little help. That’s the out he wanted.”
Irvin passed it on to his manager, rewarding the trust the sixth-year captain had shown him.
“He came out, hugged me tight and said a word or two,” Martinez said. “But he was thrilled that I gave him a chance. And I told him I earned it. Really great job.”
Irvin had 14 swings, 19 call strikes, a 4.47 ERA, a 5.30 FIP, 38 walks (3.54BB/9) and 81Ks (7.54K/9) in the 2018 fourth round. He became a Nuts player by appointment. 19 start and 96 2⁄3 The IP since its MLB debut on May 3rd.
“It gave me a lot of confidence to know that he was there for me and wanted me in that situation,” Irvin said of making the final out. “And like I said, as a competitor, you just want the ball there.”
Martinez was happy to see the young starter show confidence and react to challenges from his manager as he did.
“Let him take a deep breath,” he said of the breath he gave Irvin. “And realize that was his game. Like I said, this is just another growing moment for one of our young starters. And he really took it. I got through it just fine.”
“Jake was phenomenal. He really was. He gave us six innings. I pitched.”
@PitchingNinja also liked what he saw:
As I always say, I love his work.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 19, 2023
