Boston Red Sox Steal Win From Defensively Inept Nats

By Frank OLaughlin | Apr 14, 2015

Apr 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Koji Uehara (19) is congratulated by catcher Ryan Hanigan (10) after defeating the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox (6-2) capitalized on a pair of late-inning errors to overcome Justin Masterson‘s woeful pitching performance Tuesday night at Fenway Park, walking away with an 8-7 victory. Dustin Pedroia collected three hits as the Boston offense made Washington Nationals (2-6) ace Stephen Strasburg look rather ordinary.

In the seventh, with the Red Sox trailing 7-5, Nationals reliever Blake Treinen committed a pair of errors that relinquished the lead. Boston tallied three unearned runs in the inning without recording a hit. Three errors in total were committed by Washington in the frame.

Washington’s debacle began when shortstop Ian Desmond booted a ball hit by Hanley Ramirez. Shane Victorino and Allen Craig were then both hit by a pitch. Treinen then misplayed a tapper hit by Ryan Hanigan and proceeded to threw the ball into the stands in an attempted play at the plate. Ramirez and Victorino both scored on the play to tie the game. Craig later scored on a Brock Holt groundout.

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The Red Sox knocked Strasburg all over the yard after falling behind 1-0 in the second. They tagged Strasburg for 10 hits, five runs and a homer. He notched five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings of work.

Mookie Betts gave Boston a 2-1 lead in the second on a double down the left field line. Mike Napoli and Holt both scored on the play. In the third, Daniel Nava and Hanigan collected RBI singles. Pedroia followed in the fourth with a solo homer over the Monster. He now has three homers thus far this season. The hit put Boston on top 5-1.

Masterson, in his 2015 Fenway debut, was cruising along until things imploded in the fifth. Masterson hit Jayson Werth with a pitch to begin the inning. Bryce Harper followed with a single. Ryan Zimmerman then walked to load the bases. Clint Robinson, Wilson Ramos and Desmond all recorded RBIs before Masterson was replaced by Alexi Ogando.

With the game deadlocked at five aside, Michael Taylor clubbed a two-run triple to deep center to put the Nats up 7-5. Edward Mujica replaced Ogando and pitched a scoreless seventh. He struck out two and earned the win for Boston.

Koji Uehara was called upon to pitch the ninth. Zimmerman nearly tied the game for Washington on a towering fly ball to left that soared over the Monster. Fortunately for Uehara, the long drive was ruled foul. Uehara then went on to slam the door in impressive fashion for his first save of the season.

The Red Sox will look to complete the series sweep of Washington on Wednesday afternoon. Wade Miley will take to the hill and oppose Gio Gonzalez.

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