Nationals 1 Mets 0 (Nationals Park Washington, DC)
Mets record: 42-43
Mets streak: Lost 2
WP - Jake Irvin (7-6)
LP - Adrian Houser (1-5)
S- Derek Law 1
L10 6-4
Seat on the Korner: JAKE IRVIN
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Jake Irvin earns a well-deserved seat on the Korner for his stellar performance, pitching 8 scoreless innings—the furthest he has gone in a game in his Major League career. Irvin allowed just one hit and one walk, striking out eight batters and retiring 17 Mets in a row after yielding the only Met hit of the day to Jeff McNeil in the third inning. His exceptional outing contributed to a combined shutout win, marking his seventh victory of the season.
Need to Know
The Mets are now 33-38 all-time on Independence Day. New York's streal of winning at least one game on Independence Day the last three years comes to an end, The Mets won in 2023 and 2022 and the team split a doubleheader with the Yankees in 2021.
Washington is 10-9 on July 4th since 2005 and since the 11:05 a.m. tradition began in 2012, the Nationals are 6-6 on the Fourth of July.
Jose Quintana made his ninth start of the season during the day, after an outstanding start in which he took a no decision Quintana is 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA (16 ER/51.0 IP) with 16 walks and 35 strikeouts.
Nationals starter Jake Irvin ranks in the National League in ERA (7th, 3.03), walks per 9.0 innings (7th, 2.11), WHIP (7th, 1.06) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (9th, 3.74) headed into his start against the Mets his first time this season and the second time in his career. In his lone start against New York (NL) on May 14, 2023, he struck out six batters over 4.2 innings, allowed six earned runs on six hits and allowed one walk in an 8-2 loss at Nationals Park..He owns an 0-1 record and 11.57 ERA (6 ER/4.2 IP) in his career against the Mets.
The Mets streak of having homered in 16 straight games, bashing 36 home runs in that span comes to an end. It is was their longest streak of the season and the second- longest in franchise history...The Mets record is a 21-game streak from July 16-August 5, 1996...The Mets have hit 109 home runs this year...That is the fourth-most in the major leagues.
The Mets streak of having recorded a double in 30 consecutive games also came to an end.That was tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history...New York has recorded 72 doubles in that span...The Mets also had a 30-game streak from April 20-May 22, 2001...The franchise-record is a 36 game streak from May 7-June 14, 2012 (81 doubles)...The Mets are fourth in the majors with 156 doubles.
James Wood has reached base safely in eight of 17 plate appearances (4 H, 4 BB) and in all four games to start his Major League career.
Both starting pitchers went at least 7 innings for only the 26th time this season in all of Major League Baseball. It was the third time this occurred in a Mets game.
Turning Point
It's hard to pinpoint a turning point in a 1-0 pitcher's duel, but Adrian Houser's decision to give pinch hitter Jesse Winker anything good to hit stands out. Winker, who owns a .465 lifetime batting average against Houser, now has six home runs off him. The pinch-hit home run proved to be the game-winner.
Three Keys
Good Old Fashioned Pitchers Duel
In a masterful display of pitching prowess, starters José Quintana and Jake Irvin combined to deliver an exceptional performance, going a total of 15 innings without allowing a single run. Quintana and Irvin yielded only five hits and four walks between them while racking up nine strikeouts. Their dominant outing kept the opposing team off the scoreboard, and the game, characterized by its swift pace, was completed in under two hours. This remarkable effort from both pitchers not only showcased their skill and endurance but also underscored their ability to control the game and maintain pressure on the opposing hitters.
No Fireworks from Nimmo, Alonso and Alvarez
Over the last two games, Brandon Nimmo (0-7), Pete Alonso (0-7), and Francisco Alvarez (0-4) have combined for a frustrating 0-18 at the plate. Despite their recent struggles, both Alonso and Nimmo have previously found success in the nation's capital. Coming into play today, Pete Alonso boasted a strong record at Nationals Park, hitting .309/.396/.629 with 30 runs, 10 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 24 walks in 47 games. Similarly, Brandon Nimmo has been a formidable presence, maintaining a career .319/.422/.452 line with 31 runs.
Out of the Fire and Into Frying Pan
After the Mets' offense has gone stagnant and has not scored a run over the last 13 innings, their challenges are about to intensify as they travel to Pittsburgh to start a four-game series against the Pirates. The Mets will face the Pirates' rookie phenom, Paul Skenes, who has been outstanding this season with a 4-0 record and a 2.06 ERA. Skenes has struck out an impressive 70 batters in 52.1 innings, making him a formidable opponent for the struggling Mets lineup.
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