Left-handed pitcher Mitchell Parker threw seven innings without allowing any runs, and Luis Garcia Jr. contributed with three singles and two RBIs to help the Washington Nationals secure a 6-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
The Nationals have now won three of their last four series after starting the season with two wins and six losses.
In his second major league start, Parker, who allowed two runs over five innings in his debut against the L.A. Dodgers, was even more impressive.
He gave up only three hits, struck out eight batters, and didn’t walk anyone. Parker demonstrated excellent control, throwing 57 of his 73 pitches for strikes.
Manager Dave Martinez praised Parker’s composure and readiness, noting how quickly he returned to the mound after each play. Parker effectively used a combination of pitches, including his splitter, curveball, and fastball, to keep the Astros hitters off balance. He particularly excelled at striking out Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña.
Parker expressed satisfaction with his ability to throw the splitter for strikes, a skill he struggled with in his previous outing against the Dodgers. He aims to continue refining his pitches to maintain his current level of performance.
Astros pitcher Hunter Brown replaced the scheduled starter Cristian Javier, who was sidelined due to neck discomfort. Javier was subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list, and Spencer Arrighetti was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land.
