Arlington, Texas – In front of more than 40 family members and friends who traveled from nearby Oklahoma, Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavania (11‑5) threw a dominant six‑inning performance against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night. The right‑hander recorded 11 strikeouts, allowed no runs and limited the Rangers to three singles and a walk.
Game highlights
Cavania struck out the first eight batters he faced, adding ten strikeouts in the fourth inning alone. He was perfect through five innings, surrendering his first hit – a slow roller down the third‑base line off Corey Seager’s bat – in the first inning. After that, he retired the final 11 batters he faced, delivering 58 strikes out of 84 pitches.
The Nationals secured a 6‑0 win, with designated hitter Andrés Chaparro contributing a three‑run homer. Chaparro praised Cavania’s preparation, saying, “Whenever he gets here, the way he’s already focused, we know we have an opportunity to win.”
Historical context
Cavania’s performance marks the second consecutive start in franchise history with at least six scoreless innings and ten strikeouts, joining a feat last achieved by three‑time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in June 2015. He is now tied for fifth in the National League with 162 strikeouts and rides a 17‑inning scoreless streak. Over his last ten starts, Cavania is 7‑1 with a 2.36 ERA.
Earlier this season, Cavania also posted back‑to‑back double‑digit strikeout games, recording ten strikeouts against Atlanta and the New York Mets at the end of April.
Past incident
On June 30 at Boston, Cavania set a career high with 13 strikeouts and no walks in seven innings. That game featured a bench‑clearing confrontation after Cavania exchanged words with Red Sox slugger Willson Contreras. Although Cavania was not ejected, he served a five‑game suspension, while Contreras received a seven‑game suspension.
Looking ahead
With his recent success, Cavania provides the Nationals with a reliable arm as they continue their campaign in the National League. Fans and family members expressed gratitude for the opportunity to see him pitch in person, noting the special significance of performing close to home.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
