Washington Nationals starting pitcher Josiah Gray. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Nationals' Josiah Gray finally does not give up a home run

Originally posted on DC Sports King
By King W. Motley III | Last updated 9/24/22

In his first full MLB season, Washington Nationals pitcher Josiah Gray has taken his share of lumps. The 24-year-old was on the bump Friday, as the Nationals fell 5-2 to the Miami Marlins.

Gray allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings on 92 pitches. He also struck out three and walked one. The loss dropped his record to 7-10 on the season.

In defeat, Gray got a small victory. He didn’t give up a home run. It was the first game Gray didn’t surrender a home run since June 18. He halted a 13-game streak in which he gave up at least one home run.

The Marlins did not homer off Josiah Gray tonight, making it the first time since June 18 that an opponent didn't take Gray deep at least once.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) September 24, 2022

Gray has allowed 37 home runs this season — the most in MLB. His one walk was also impressive, as he has the National League lead in walks.

His night got off to a rocky start. The Marlins’ first three batters reached base. Jon Berti rocked a lead-off double. Then Gray hit Brian Anderson with a pitch. Garrett Cooper then doubled to deep left to score Berti. But, Gray settled down with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to stop the damage in the first.

Gray allowed just three hits from the second through the fifth innings. But his night unraveled in the sixth. The Marlins’ first five batters of the frame reached base.

With the game tied 1-1, Gray allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning. Then walked a batter to load the bases before hitting his second batter in the game to score a run. An RBI single by Charles Leblanc gave the Marlins an insurance run, extending their lead to 3-1.

Josiah Gray plunked Bryan De La Cruz and was extremely frustrated with himself. A run comes in and there are still no outs in the sixth. According to Statcast, it was his first four-seam fastball since the fourth inning. Then Charles LeBlanc singles off a slider and it is 3-1.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) September 24, 2022

Miami scored another run on double play before Gray got out of the inning with the Nationals trailing 4-1.

Gray, whom the Nats acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade last July, is projected to be in the middle of the Nationals’ rotation next season. As the season nears an end, Gray can take any small wins he can in hopes of gaining momentum for 2023.

This article first appeared on DC Sports King and was syndicated with permission.

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