MINNEAPOLIS -- Right-hander Jake Irvin’s love for the game of baseball was sparked watching the Twins in his hometown of Bloomington, Minn. On Sunday, Irvin stepped on to the pitcher’s mound at Target Field in Minneapolis as a Major Leaguer for the first time in his three-year career.
Irvin, 28, got the start and earned the win in the Nationals' 7-2 series finale victory over the Twins. In front of an abundance of family and friends -- many seen wearing his jersey around the ballpark -- Irvin delivered seven innings of two-run baseball.
“It's hard to put into words really what it means,” Irvin said leading up to the outing. “More than anything, it's something where I get to be really grateful for the position I'm in, but also thankful for the people that helped me get here and the team that inspired the passion to be here.”
The Nationals' schedule and starting rotation order aligned in Irvin’s favor. The Nats played an afternoon home game on Wednesday, flew to Minneapolis that night and had an off-day on Thursday. Irvin then had the first two games of the weekend series off before being tabbed in the finale.
“I've been looking forward to this since [the schedule] came out last year,” Irvin said. “... I was just happy to let these guys come here and show my teammates what Minnesota was really all about.”
After spending time with his family upon his arrival, Irvin invited some of his teammates out on a boat on Lake Minnetonka for the off-day. He was glad to show them why his home is so special to him.
“The beauty of this state, everything that Minnesota has to offer,” Irvin said. “A lot of these guys joke, they think it's a tundra. You think of Minnesota, you think of the snow, you think of the cold. And when you're here in the summer, there's a reason people stay – this place is beautiful.
“[I] wanted to show them just a little piece of home, getting out on the lake is a special way to do that. And more than anything, Minnesota hospitality, that ‘Midwest Minnesota Nice’ and try to just show them a good day, have a good time and relax on an off-day in what's been a super busy season.”
In front of what felt like “200” hometown supporters, Irvin threw a four-pitch first inning that set the tone for his longest outing (in innings) since May 24.
“[There were] a whole lot of emotions,” said Irvin. “I think the coolest thing was probably warming up, trying to stay locked in but seeing a bunch of familiar faces and people trying to say hello. At the end of the day, it was just awesome to have that support, have that backing here.”
Irvin was in attendance when Johan Santana struck out 17 batters on Aug. 19, 2007, at the Metrodome. That performance ignited Irvin’s interest in pitching. Eighteen years later, he had the long-awaited opportunity to make a big league start in the same setting at Target Field.
“That was the dream, that was always the dream,” said Irvin. “It’s a testament to the people around me and the people in my life because, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t be here without them. It was a really cool moment more for them, honestly, than it was for me just because I finally got to have all those people here under one roof just watching a ball game.”