WASHINGTON 每 Kyle Finnegan separates the days. Otherwise, they would blend together and the workload would add up. So Monday was just Monday, not his third day in a row pitching. And getting five outs against the Dodgers 每 while having to face Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts 每 that was just the game＊s assignment.
※I wanted it,§ Finnegan said after the 6-4 win at Nationals Park. ※I felt like it was my game to win or lose.§
Manager Dave Martinez called on the All-Star closer to preserve a three-run lead with one out in the eighth inning and runners on first and second. Finnegan had recorded one-inning saves on Saturday and Sunday against the D-backs, and he had the adrenaline rushing for more.
Finnegan recorded the fourth five-out save of his career, his first since a 1 2/3-inning outing on July 30, 2022, against the Cardinals. The last Nats pitcher to record such a save was two innings by Hunter Harvey on May 31, 2023, at the Dodgers.
※There are times throughout the season where your workflow ebbs and flows,§ said Finnegan, 33. ※This was one of those times where your teammates need you more than other times. That＊s something that I take pride in. As a pitcher and as a reliever, I feel like I owe it to my teammates to be available as much as I possibly can when I＊m feeling able, and today was no different.§
Facing his first batter, Finnegan got Teoscar Hern芍ndez to line out to right field. Betts advanced from second to third, and Will Smith drove in Betts on a line-drive single to center field. With the Nationals＊ lead cut to two, Finnegan stranded runners on first and second by striking out Kik谷 Hern芍ndez.
※We had a chance to win the game,§ said Martinez. ※[Finnegan] went through that inning and had 12 pitches. When he came back in the dugout, he looked at me and he goes, ＆I can get you three outs.＊ It＊s the reason why he＊s here 每 he closes games for us. He did that today, and he did it really well.§
Finnegan returned to the mound to face the bottom of the Dodgers＊ lineup, with Ohtani, who was a double shy of the cycle, looming at the top of the order. Finnegan allowed a leadoff double to Max Muncy into left field. He locked in to get two outs on a groundout by pinch-hitter Hunter Feduccia and a strikeout on three pitches (all above 96 mph) against Michael Conforto.
Then, Ohtani.
Finnegan knew one swing of the bat from the star slugger could make this a tie game in a matter of seconds. He had a plan. Finnegan threw all splitters to Ohtani 每 the first three were low, the next two were called strikes and the deciding pitch was in the dirt for ball four.
※You don＊t want to let him beat you there, so I was attacking him with splitters,§ Finnegan said. ※He had some really good takes there. I threw some really good ones, I thought. He knows the situation, too. He knows I＊m not going to give him anything too good to hit. He＊s a pro, and he worked his at-bat.
※I was able to sneak back in there, 3-2. At that point, my mindset didn＊t change. If I was going to get him out, it was because he was going to chase something out of the zone, and he did his job and took ball four.§
The Nationals were only one out away, but that out was Betts with runners on the corners. Betts knocked a second-pitch fastball to second baseman Luis Garc赤a Jr., who cleanly fielded it and threw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the win.
Job completed.
※I think that we do talk about teams bring their best against us, and obviously, Davey felt an opportunity to win a baseball game,§ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ※They＊re going to use their best guy, regardless of any circumstance or usage. So that＊s kind of what we＊re up against, and we understand that going into each game.§
An ecstatic Finnegan let out his excitement as the victory light show denoted the dramatic win at Nationals Park.
※There＊s nothing like it,§ said Finnegan. ※It＊s what we all love to do, and it＊s just a great feeling.§