Jake Irvin pitched well for six innings, CJ Abrams started the game with a home run, and the Washington Nationals defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 8-1 on Saturday, halting a four-game losing streak.
Irvin (6-6) gave up only one hit, a home run to Brandon Lowe in the first inning. He struck out five batters and walked three. In his last 15 starts, Irvin has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 of them.
“I talk about it a lot, but my goal is to keep us competitive and give us a chance to win every fifth day,” Irvin commented. “I’m pleased with how things are going.” Irvin has now pitched six innings in six of his last seven starts.
“He pitched tough,” Rays manager Kevin Cash acknowledged. “We couldn’t get anything going against him.” Derek Law, Hunter Harvey, and Kyle Finnegan each pitched an inning to complete a two-hitter for the Nationals.
Abrams hit his third leadoff home run of the season and later added an RBI double during Washington’s six-run seventh inning.
Harold Ramírez, who joined the Nationals after being released by the Rays in June, hit a two-run triple in the seventh inning against his former team. It was his first triple since August 14 and the seventh of his career.
With the loss, the Rays fell back below .500 with a record of 41-42. They haven’t had a winning record since May 21.
Yandy Díaz went hitless in four at-bats, ending his Tampa Bay-record 20-game hitting streak. He hit a hard line drive to first base in the eighth inning.
The Nationals took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning thanks to Luis García Jr.’s alert baserunning. He scored from third base on a wild pitch by Aaron Civale (2-6) that bounced in front of the plate.
“That was awesome,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Luis got a good jump and broke for home right away. It was a key play for us.”
