Matt Harvey impressive again, Orioles beat Nationals 5-3

By: Noah Trister, The Associated Press Posted: 8:25 PM CDT Saturday, Jul. 24, 2021 Last Modified: 9:13 PM CDT Saturday, Jul. 24, 2021

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BALTIMORE (AP) — Matt Harvey allowed one hit in six scoreless innings in another outstanding performance and the Baltimore Orioles held on to beat the fading Washington Nationals 5-3 on Saturday night.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/07/2021 (1854 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Harvey (5-10) allowed only one baserunner — Trea Turner hit a double in the fourth. The right-hander struck out four. Harvey went 12 straight starts without a win, but now he’s thrown six scoreless innings in each of his past two starts.

“Feeling really good with all the pitches,” Harvey said. “Especially the curveball. I haven’t thrown that a whole lot in the past — being able to get that over for a strike, and also be able to feel confident with it both to righties and lefties.”

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Matt Harvey delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Trey Mancini and Ryan Mountcastle each hit a solo homer, and the Orioles added three more runs in the sixth. Washington, which scratched ace Max Scherzer before the game because of triceps discomfort, has lost 14 of its last 19.

“We’ve still got a lot of baseball left. We really do,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Offense needs to get it going again.”

Juan Soto hit a solo homer for the Nationals in the seventh, and Turner added a two-run single in the eighth. But Dillon Tate worked a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Jon Lester (3-5) allowed three runs and three hits in five-plus innings after starting in place of Scherzer.

“I felt like I threw the ball pretty well,” Lester said. “Just no results.”

Mancini, who has a seven-game hitting streak since the All-Star break, gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the first when he went deep for the first time since finishing second to Pete Alonso of the Mets in the Home Run Derby. Mountcastle homered in the fourth.

Cedric Mullins doubled to lead off the Baltimore sixth, chasing Lester. Then Austin Hays hit an RBI double off reliever Austin Voth, and Mancini followed with a run-scoring single. Maikel Franco’s sacrifice fly made it 5-0.

Orioles reliever Tanner Scott hit the first two batters he faced in the eighth, loading the bases with nobody out. Then pinch-hitter Victor Robles struck out looking on a full count, and Alcides Escobar struck out as well.

Turner singled to make it 5-3, but Soto followed with a foul popup.

“He made the pitch of the game getting Soto out there. I know that the hit to Trea was disappointing, as well hitting two guys on the foot,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “He got out of the inning, and left that inning with the lead.”

MOVE

The Orioles selected the contract of RHP Conner Greene from Triple-A Norfolk.

Baltimore Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle celebrates his home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: Martinez said Scherzer is expected to make his next start. … Washington put INF Jordy Mercer on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday, with a left calf strain. The Nationals recalled INF Carter Kieboom from Triple-A Rochester. He struck out to end the game.

UP NEXT

John Means (4-3) starts for the Orioles in Sunday’s series finale against Washington’s Paolo Espino (2-2). The Nationals swept a three-game series at home against Baltimore in May, and now the Orioles are trying to return the favor by taking three in a row.