The Washington Nationals have now won the last seven of their eight road series games after Wednesday's win.
The Nationals secured the three-games series win against the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon after they picked up a 10-2 win courtesy of strong offensive efforts and a bullpen that didn’t surrender on the mound.
After yesterday’s impressive offensive performance the Nationals looked to replicate and dominate behind the bat once again.
Curtis Mead got the Nationals offense started after he earned his first triple of the season which also marked his third of his career. The ball bounced just enough off the back wall for it to get lost in the outfield. Now with a runner in scoring position the Nationals looked to strike first.
Andrés Chaparro seized the opportunity to get the first run on the board after he homered 396 feet to left center off a 95 mph four-seam fast ball for the two-run home run off the Green Monster. This was also Chaparro’s first major league home run this season.
Andrés Chaparro two-run home run in dominant first inning. The Nationals had two runners in scoring position after Dylan Crews walked and Jacob Young doubled to center not after. But Jorbit Vivas grounded out to second and sent the Nationals offense back to the dugout.
Starting pitcher Brad Lord got the start in the third game of the series. Lord averaged an 3.31 ERA, surrendered 18 walks, and had 51 strikeouts in his 25 games this season.
Lord looked strong during his time on the mound. In the second inning Lord retired all three batters he faced after they all grounded out for a quick inning.
Starting pitcher Brad Lord deliveres an impressive performace on the mound. The Red Sox looked to pick up where they left off in the first inning but came up short in the third inning after the Nationals challenged a potential safe call at first base. Ultimately it was overturned and the runner was out which sent the Red Sox back to their dugout and runners stranded on bases.
Nasim Nuñez cracked open the start of the fourth inning with his first home run of the season. He drilled the 92 mph four-season fastball on the first pitch of the inning all the way to left center.
Drew Millas kept the pressure on the Red Sox after he earned a single out to left. The offense didn’t stop there though. The Nationals continued to load the bases after James Wood earned a walk followed by a Mead walk.
With bases loaded, Luis García Jr. prepared to add to the Nationals lead and he delivered on that. García drilled one out to left. As the ball ricocheted off the Green Monster, García secured the single with both Millas and Wood back at home for two more Nationals runs.
It wasn’t over for the Nationals though. Despite the fact that Daylen Lile grounded into a double play, the offense wasn’t done yet. Mead also secured home off Lile’s play.
Young earned his second double of the game after he also drilled one out to left to hit off the Green Monster. García reached home off the Young play to make it 7-0 Nationals headed into the bottom of the fourth.
Jacob Young launches the ball to pick up his second double of the game. After a drought for both teams, it started to pick back up in the seventh inning for the Nationals. Young walked and Millas would eventually also walk.
In no time, Wood found his rhythm when he slammed the 87 mph slider 383 feet to left center for a three-run homer. Wood’s home run only insured the Nationals lead even more as they headed into the eighth inning up 10-0 over the Red Sox.
James Wood celebrates in the dugout after his three-run home run in the seventh inning to add to the Nationals lead.However, the Red Sox avoided the shutout in the eighth inning. The Red Sox had the bases loaded and only one out but Nationals pitcher RIley Cornelio couldn’t give the home team their second out after he walked a run in.
It didn’t take much time after that before another run secured home. Fortunately, the Nationals were able to pick up the second out but with runners on corners for the Red Sox, anything would be possible. But Cornelio seeked redemption and earned it after he struck out the batter to close out the inning.
The Nationals almost added to their lead in the ninth but were unable to do so. The Red Sox attempted at a comeback run but ultimately failed as the Nationals would go home feeling comfortable with a series road win.
The Nationals will return home for nine straight home games which will kick off against the Pirates. Game one is set for Friday at 6:45 p.m. before wrapping up the three-game Pirates series on Sunday.
Nationals Roundtable also offers a fan community. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Nationals. Create an account, click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our free community and follow for all of our coverage, analysis and more!
