Good news before the game, Xander Bogaerts MRI revealed nothing and he was in the lineup for today's game. That's as far as the good news went. The Nationals wasted no time scoring in the top of the first. Miley got the ball to start the top of the first and he walked Yunel Escobar to start. Escobar advanced to second on the broken bat force by Ian Desmond. Shane Victorino made a running catch to rob Jayson Werth of a hit and an rbi, but Escobar advanced to third. Bryce Harper doubled deep off the centerfield wall to drive in Escobar. Ryan Zimmerman then tripled home Harper but Wilson Ramos grounded out to second to end the inning. Miley is supposed to be a ground ball pitcher but everything was hit in the air..and hard as the Nationals led 2-0.
Gio Gonzalez got the start for the Nationals in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts singled to center to start the bottom of the first but was erased on the force by Dustin Pedroia. Hanley Ramirez lined out to center and Allen Craig struck out swinging to end the inning.
Miley got hit hard in the top of the second as well but was bailed out by the defense. Victorino made yet another running catch, this one off of Tyler Moore to start. Mr. Mookie then had to make a running catch to rob Dan Uggla. Miley managed to give his exhausted outfield a rest by striking out Michael Taylor to end the inning. The Nationals 3 Stooges defense struck again in the bottom of the third when Mike Napoli hit a hard fly ball to Michael Taylor who fell and dropped it out of his glove, Napoli motoring around to third base. Victorino singled him home to cut the lead. Xander Bogaerts hit a routine grounder to Escobar who threw it into the Red Sox dugout, moving Victorino to third and Bogaerts to second. Brock Holt smashed one but it was right to Escobar, luckily no one was doubled off. Sandy Leon grounded out but Victorino scored to tie the game. Mr. Mookie flied out to end the inning, but the game was tied 2-2.
The Nationals struck back in the top of the third. Escobar flied out but Desmond lined one into the monster seats to give the Nats the 3-2 lead. Werth got his first base hit of the season and Harper walked. Zimmerman walked to load the bases and Ramos cleared the bases with a double to chase Miley. That was it as Sox manager John Farrell thankfully pulled Miley after just 2 1/3 innings.
Anthony Varvaro replaced Miley and fared no better. He struck out Moore but Uggla doubled in Ramos and Taylor doubled in Uggla. Escobar grounded out but now it was 8-2 Washington. Could the Sox make a comeback? Pedroia struck out swinging to begin the bottom of the third, Ramirez grounded out to third and Craig also grounded out to third to end the inning. That's a big no on the comeback.
Varvaro had better success in the top of the 4th inning as Desmond grounded out to first to start. Werth grounded out to third but Harper singled. Zimmerman flied out to right to end the inning. Gonzalez remained tough in the bottom of the 4th. Napoli struck out swinging but Victorino walked. Bogaerts and Holt both struck out swinging to end the inning.
Varvaro returned for the top of the 5th and Ramos grounded out to short to start. Moore singled to center but Uggla flied out to right. Taylor struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the 5th although Leon flied out to left to start. Mr. Mookie struck out swinging but Pedroia doubled and Ramirez crushed one into the monster seats for his 4th home run of the year to cut the lead in half. Craig grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox were climbing back down 8-4.
Now could the bullpen hold the fort so the offense could make the comeback? Escobar walked to lead off the top of the 6th and Robbie Ross Jr replaced Varvaro. Desmond walked but Werth popped up to second and Harper banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox continued to claw in the bottom of the 6th. Napoli walked and advanced to second on the ground out by Victorino. Bogaerts grounded out to third but Holt hit a ground rule double that missed a home run by a dozen or so feet. Leon grounded out to third to end the inning but it was now 8-5 Washington. How big was the back to back doubles Varvaro allowed in the 3rd? It would be 6-5 if it wasn't for that.
It didn't matter because the Nats put the game away immediately in the top of the 7th. Zimmerman grounded back to the mound but Ramos singled to center. Moore parked one into the monster seats to ice the game. Ross recovered to get Uggla to pop up to second but Taylor singled to center. Escobar grounded back to the mound to end the inning but the damage was done. Varvaro and Ross had gobbled up innings but had given up 3 runs in the process as the Nationals led 10-5. Rafael Martin was brought in to pitch the 7th and he got Mr. Mookie to fly out to center to start. Pedroia singled to left but Ramirez struck out swinging Craig watched strike three go by to end the inning.
Craig Breslow relieved Ross in the top of the 8th and Desmond popped up to short to start. Werth walked but Harper flied out to right. Zimmerman grounded tinto a force to end the inning. Martin ended up striking out the side in the bottom of the 8th. Napoli and Victorino went down hacking and Bogaerts took strike three to end the inning.
Breslow finished off the top of the 9th with a flurry. Ramos and Moore both struck out swinging before Uggla flied out to right to end the inning. If only the others had pitched like this, this game would be much closer. Drew Storen relieved Martin to close out the game. Holt grounded out to first to start before Daniel Nava pinch hit for Leon. Nava watched strike three go by and Betts grounded out to short to end the game. The Nationals had won it 10-5.
Jackass of the Night is easy, Wade Miley. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings while allowing 7 runs to put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Mike Napoli was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Shane Victorino was 1 for 3 with a walk, an rbi and a run scored.
Craig Breslow pitched two scoreless innings
The Bad:
Allen Craig was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Daniel Nava struck out in his only pinch hit appearance.
Robbie Ross Jr gave up the two run bomb to Moore.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5.
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a two run home run.
Brock Holt was just 1 for 4 but his one hit was an rbi double.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 3 but drove in a run with a ground out.
Anthony Varvaro allowed an inherited runner to score and one of his own in 2 2/3 innings.
Final Thoughts:
Just like the New York finale, the Sox won the series but the finale leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The Sox are 6-3 but it feels worse because of the shoddy starting pitching from Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Miley. Brian Johnson, Henry Owens and Eduardo Rodriguez aren't ready yet and Brandon Workman and Edwin Escobar are both hurt. So its not like help is coming any time soon. Still, first place is first place even if its only 9 games into the season. The Sox are off tomorrow and start a 3 game set Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. The defending AL East champions will be the next test, Joe Kelly will be there to meet them.
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