Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Sports
CJ Abrams' Leadoff Homer Lifts Nationals Over Dodgers 2-0
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 11 months ago on
April 18, 2024

CJ Abrams homered in the first at-bat of the game and the Washington Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 on Wednesday to take the series. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CJ Abrams’ Opening Performance

Los Angeles – CJ Abrams homered in the first at-bat of the game and the Washington Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 on Wednesday to take the series.

Nationals starter Jake Irvin (1-1) threw six scoreless innings to get his first win of the season and gave up just four hits. Irvin was efficient and dominant all afternoon.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s been outstanding, actually. He keeps getting better and better. The confidence is growing, so he gives us the innings we need. We had a big conversation after the sixth inning. I felt he’d let the air out there that last inning and we talked a little bit. We had a fresh bullpen so we decided to go with the bullpen. I can’t say enough about what he’s done so far.”

Landon Knack (0-1) made his major league debut for the Dodgers.

Up Next

Washington LHP Mackenzie Gore (2-0, 0.00 ERA) faces Houston’s Justin Verlander, who makes his first start of the season, in Washington on Friday. Gore has 23 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings this season. Los Angeles RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1, 4.50) makes the start Friday against the New York Mets. Yamamoto has 21 strikeouts this season.

First Inning Highlights

Abrams smacked his second pitch of the game to right centerfield for his third career leadoff home run. Joey Menses hit a sacrifice fly to center to score a run for a 2-0 lead also in the first. Those were the only runs of the game.

Knack settled down after that first inning and retired the next 12 batters.

“Started off and had a little bit of nerves going,” Knack said. “I was excited and then back end of the inning started to calm down and after we got through the first inning started to do things as normal.”

He allowed those two earned runs on four hits, struck out four and walked one.

After a five-hit game the day before, Mookie Betts was 0-for-4. Shohei Ohtani was 3-for-4 with three singles.

“Shohei was fantastic. I thought he did a great job,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He saw some good arms today. I thought he did a great job controlling the strike zone. When he got a pitch in the strike zone, he hit it hard. If he can continue to do that, as good as he is, I think that he can be even better.”

Kyle Finnegan earned his seventh save of the season by retiring the side in the ninth.

But Irvin’s fastball stole the show Wednesday.

“That was the goal today, compete over the plate,” Irvin said. “I can’t create swing and miss, it just happens. Do my job, compete over the plate and let the rest work out.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

DON'T MISS

Protesters in Fresno Rally Against Tesla and Elon Musk

DON'T MISS

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

DON'T MISS

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

DON'T MISS

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

DON'T MISS

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

DON'T MISS

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

DON'T MISS

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

DON'T MISS

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

UP NEXT

Shohei Ohtani Hits 2-Run HR in Return to Japan Against Yomiuri Giants

UP NEXT

49ers Bring Back Kyle Juszczyk Days After Cutting Him, AP Source Says

UP NEXT

Stephen Curry Becomes First Player in NBA History to Make 4,000 3-Pointers

UP NEXT

49ers Agree to 2-Year Contract With QB Mac Jones, AP Source Says

UP NEXT

49ers Cut 2 More Players, Increasing Dead Cap Charge to More Than $86 Million

UP NEXT

Chargers Sign Former Steelers Running Back Najee Harris and Cornerback Donte Jackson

UP NEXT

Bills to Sign Joey Bosa to 1-Year, $12.6 Million Contract, AP Source Says

UP NEXT

Tiger Woods Faces Another Injury and Another Lost Year. Has Golf Seen the Last of Him?

UP NEXT

Dodgers Reward Manager With 4-Year Contract Extension That Runs Through 2029

UP NEXT

Deals for QBs and Pass Rushers Highlight Start of NFL Free Agency

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

1 day ago

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

1 day ago

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

1 day ago

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

1 day ago

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

1 day ago

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

1 day ago

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

1 day ago

Dodgers’ Star Mookie Betts Sidelined in Japan With Flu-Like Symptoms

1 day ago

US Imposes Sanctions on Thai Officials After Uyghur Men Are Deported to China

1 day ago

Shohei Ohtani Hits 2-Run HR in Return to Japan Against Yomiuri Giants

1 day ago

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Robert Brown had tried everything for his pain, from acupu...

8 hours ago

8 hours ago

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

20 hours ago

Protesters in Fresno Rally Against Tesla and Elon Musk

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Pool via AP)
1 day ago

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

1 day ago

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

1 day ago

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

1 day ago

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

1 day ago

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

1 day ago

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend