Kyle McGowin hadn’t pitched in a major league game since August 19, 2019 before he took the mound in the bottom of the fourth inning last night, replacing Nationals’ starter Erick Fedde after the right-hander gave up a leadoff home run and one and two-out walks in the inning.
McGowin threw five sliders to Marcell Ozuna, all out of the zone, and the Braves’ slugger chased and K’d swinging to end the inning.
Washington’s skipper, Davey Martinez, liked what he saw from the 28-year-old reliever, so he sent McGowin back out for the fifth, and the right-hander struck out two in an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 frame, and a 14-pitch, 1-2-3 sixth followed.