WASHINGTON -- In the midst of playing 16 games in 16 days, the Nationals pushed their clubhouse report time back on Friday to create a semblance of an off-day following a Thursday matinee.
Rookie starting pitcher Jackson Kent still showed up three hours early. His responsibilities hadn’t changed, so neither did his preparation.
“He was one of the first ones [here],” manager Blake Butera said of Kent. “I'm sure just like champing at the bit to get out there. [I’ve learned] how badly he wants to compete, wants to win.”
By the time the clubhouse filled up later that afternoon, the Nationals’ No. 9 prospect was in game mode. And when the clock struck 6:45 p.m., he was ready.
Ready to throw 100-plus pitches and earn his first Major League win.
Kent completed seven innings of one-run baseball in the Nationals’ 9-2 victory over the Marlins at Nationals Park. In only his fourth big league appearance since debuting on Aug. 12, the left-hander hurled 106 pitches (64 strikes), allowed three hits, four walks and struck out three.
After giving up an RBI single to Xavier Edwards in the second inning, Kent kept the Marlins off the board the rest of his outing. Meanwhile, his team gave him a boost with five runs off Eury Pérez in the third.
Kent had faced the Marlins only five days earlier in Miami. That day, he surrendered three runs and threw 90 pitches in just 4 2/3 innings. Kent entered the game 0-2 with an 8.03 ERA.
“I think he was frustrated after his last start,” Butera said before the game. “So, I'm excited to see how he bounces back from it.”