Boston picks up a rare victory
In rough season, Red Sox get timely hitting, good relief
Xander Bogaerts hit an early three-run homer and Boston’s bullpen finished with 62/3 scoreless innings, lifting the Red Sox over the Washington Nationals 5-3 Saturday.
Kevin Pillar added a solo homer and triple for Boston, which had lost four of its past five.
Trea Turner went 5-for-5 with two doubles to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games for the Nationals. It was his third career five-hit game after he went 3-for-5 in a series-opening win on
Friday.
As the AL East-worst Red Sox approach a trade deadline that could lead to more changes, they combined decent pitching with a couple of key hits for just their 11th win in 33 games of this shortened season.
The defending World Series champion Nationals, last in the NL East, have dropped four of five.
Bogaerts homered off a back wall in deep left center in the first inning after Alex Verdugo singled and J.D. Martinez doubled off the Green Monster.
Pillar tripled leading off the second and scored on Jackie Bradley Jr.’s slow roller to first.
Ryan Brasier (1-0), the fifth of six relievers, was credited with the victory. Matt Barnes recorded the final three outs for his third save.
Washington starter Anibal Sanchez (1-4) labored through five-plus innings, giving up five runs on eight hits after holding the Miami
Marlins to a run over seven in his previous start.
The Nationals sliced it to 4-3 against starter Chris Mazza in the third, with the first run scoring when the pitcher flipped the ball from his glove over first baseman Mitch Moreland’s head trying to get an out. Howie Kendrick and Adam Eaton each had RBI singles.
Pillar homered over the Monster in the fourth, letting out a brief yell after the crack of the bat.
Making his second career start after being recalled before the game, Mazza gave up three runs in 22/3 innings.
Martinez entered the game hitting just .205 with only three homers and 15 RBIS after putting up big numbers his first two seasons with the club.