It was a crisp Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park, and the Washington Nationals gave their fans a thrill worth cheering for. Jake Irvin, the team’s towering right-hander, took the mound and delivered a performance that felt like pure magic, shutting down the San Francisco Giants for eight scoreless innings. Meanwhile, young star James Wood set the tone early, crushing a two-run homer in the first to spark a 3-0 win that had the crowd of 36,873 buzzing with excitement. It was the kind of game that reminded everyone why baseball feels like home.

Irvin, all 6-foot-6 of him, was in complete control. He tossed just 96 pitches, scattering three hits, striking out seven, and walking two. His curveball was a thing of beauty—none prettier than the one that froze Heliot Ramos for a strikeout in the eighth, sending the crowd to its feet as Irvin pumped his fist. Even when the Giants threatened in the fourth, with two runners on and no outs, Irvin stayed cool, coaxing a double-play grounder from Matt Chapman and fanning Willy Adames. “He’s just got this calm about him,” manager Dave Martinez said after the game. “Even when his fastball’s not at its peak, he knows how to get outs.” Irvin’s 2.45 ERA in May speaks to his knack for rising above challenges, even with his velocity down a tick this season.

Then there’s James Wood, the 22-year-old outfielder who’s turning heads in his first full season. Batting after Amed Rosario’s one-out double in the first, Wood saw a 0-1 curveball from Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison and didn’t miss it, launching a 390-foot shot into the right-field bullpen for his 13th homer of the year. “I was just trying to put a good swing on it,” Wood said with a grin, downplaying his heroics. Lately, he’s been on fire, hitting .400 over his last six games, with two homers, 10 RBIs, and a knack for making the game look easy.

The Nats didn’t stop there. In the seventh, Luis Garcia Jr. scored on a slow roller from Robert Hassell III, giving Washington a 3-0 cushion. The bullpen, without closer Kyle Finnegan, who was sidelined with shoulder fatigue, leaned on Jorge Lopez, who sealed the deal with a perfect ninth, capped by Daylen Lile’s diving catch in right. “That catch was something else,” Lopez said, shaking his head. “Daylen made my job easy.” The game, a brisk 1 hour and 52 minutes, was Washington’s fastest since September 2023.

For the Nationals, now 24-28 and winners of six of their last seven, this was a statement. Despite a starting rotation with a rough 5.38 ERA in May, Irvin’s gem and the team’s timely hitting showed they’re finding ways to win. The Giants, falling to 30-22, couldn’t muster much against Irvin’s mix of four-seamers, sinkers, and that wicked curve. “He kept us off balance all day,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler admitted.

Fans left Nationals Park buzzing, some lingering to relive Wood’s blast or Irvin’s clutch moments. With Michael Soroka set to face San Francisco’s Robbie Ray in the series finale, the Nats are riding a wave of momentum. For one afternoon, Irvin and Wood reminded everyone that this young team is building something special—one pitch, one swing at a time.