Washington right-hander Jake Irvin continued to mystify the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, throwing six strong innings to help the host Nationals to a 5-1 win and a split of the two-game series.
The loss drops Atlanta (79-67) one game behind the Mets in the pursuit of the final wild-card spot in the National League. Washington (65-80) won the season series 8-5 against the Braves.
Irvin (10-12) allowed one run on two hits with one walk and five strikeouts. He didn’t allow a hit until Michael Harris II doubled with two outs in the sixth.
In four starts against the Braves this season, Irvin has allowed only three runs on 13 hits over 23 1/3 innings.
Irvin has pitched at least six innings and allowed one or fewer walks in 13 starts, tied for fourth best in the National League.
The Washington bullpen shut down Atlanta the rest of the way. Derek Law (seventh inning), Jose Ferrer (eighth) and Kyle Finnegan each threw one scoreless frame.
The losing pitcher was Max Fried (9-9), who pitched six innings and allowed four runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
The Nationals got a pair of runs in the third inning. Jacob Young was hit by a pitch and went to second base on C.J. Abrams’ infield single. Dylan Crews lined a single to right to drive home Young. James Wood followed with another infield hit that Fried couldn’t handle, allowing Abrams to score. Wood has reached base safely in 12 straight.
Washington made it 3-0 in the fourth when Abrams hit a solo homer, a 420-foot shot to center field, his 20th. The Nationals scored again in the fifth when Andres Chaparro scored on a double play.
Jorge Soler drove in Atlanta’s run in the sixth with a double.
Washington added an insurance run in the eight when Jose Tena singled, stole second and scored on a soft single by Keibert Ruiz.
–Field Level Media