Field Level Media
Jul 3, 2018
Eduardo Nunez and Xander Bogaerts both hit three-run homers while J.D. Martinez added a two-run shot as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Washington Nationals 11-4 in the second game of their interleague series at Nationals Park on Tuesday night.
The teams will meet early on Wednesday for a July 4th special in the finale of this three-game series. Boston has won the first two games while the Nationals have dropped four in a row.
Nunez hit his blast in the second inning to give the Red Sox an early lead. Bogaerts got his homer during a six-run fifth inning, and Martinez finished with four RBIs.
Boston starter Brian Johnson, who pitches mostly in relief, came up one out short of the victory. He gave up two runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Brandon Workman (1-0) earned the win with one shutout inning of relief.
Washington starter Tanner Roark's problems continued in this start. He allowed nine runs on 10 hits in seven innings, battling through that long stretch while giving the overworked Washington bullpen a bit of a break.
Roark (3-10) now has lost four decisions in a row.
Nunez gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead with his three-run blast off Roark in the second inning. Mark Reynolds and Roark cut the lead to 3-2 with RBI singles in the fourth.
Martinez made it 5-2 with a two-run single in the fifth. Newly acquired Steve Pearce added an RBI single before Bogaerts crushed a three-run homer to give the Red Sox a 9-2 lead.
Pedro Severino added a solo homer for the Nationals in the sixth inning. But Martinez answered with his two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning.
Brian Goodwin led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run that made it 11-4.
Pearce came on to replace first baseman Mitch Moreland, who left due to back spasms before the Nationals came to bat in the bottom of the third inning. The Red Sox finished 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
--Field Level Media