Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) – Wilson Ramos highlighted a big third inning
with a three-run double, as the Washington Nationals jumped on the Boston Red
Sox early and won 10-5 on Wednesday afternoon to avoid a three-game sweep.
Tyler Moore was one of four Nationals who recorded two hits, going 2-for-5
with a two-run homer, while Ian Desmond added a solo shot to offset a
so-so start from Gio Gonzalez.
Gonzalez (1-1) earned his first win despite allowing five runs — four earned
— on six hits over as many frames.
“The offense was amazing,” Gonzalez said. “The guys helped a lot and took a
lot of pressure off out there.”
Hanley Ramirez belted a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who were tying to sweep
their opening home series for the first time since 2001.
Wade Miley (0-1) made a short, inauspicious Fenway Park debut. The offseason
acquisition surrendered seven runs on five hits and three walks and was chased
during the aforementioned third inning.
“It’s disappointing to go out and have an outing like that,” Miley said. “I
really didn’t give the team a chance to overcome what we did. It’s just a bad
one.”
He threw 33 pitches in the first frame alone, with Bryce Harper doubling in a
run and scoring on a Ryan Zimmerman triple into the right-field corner.
Washington’s defense gave the runs back in the second inning. Mike Napoli’s
wind-aided triple went in and out of Michael Taylor’s glove, and Shane
Victorino knocked him in with a single. A Yunel Escobar error put runners on
second and third, and Victorino scored on a Sandy Leon groundout.
Desmond’s homer over the Green Monster got the Nationals going in the third.
A single and two walks loaded to bases for Ramos, who cleared the bags with a
double to left. Anthony Varvaro took over for the ineffective Miley and
proceeded to give up consecutive RBI doubles to Dan Uggla and Taylor.
Ramirez’s laser shot in the fifth and Brock Holt’s RBI double an inning later
pulled the Red Sox within 8-5, but Moore took Robbie Ross Jr. deep in the
seventh to give Washington some more breathing room.
Rafael Martin made his MLB debut behind Gonzalez and struck out five in two
innings of work.
Game Notes
There was a moment of silence at 2:49 p.m. (et) in remembrance of those
affected by the Boston Marathon bombings that occurred two years ago to the
day. Two survivors, Jeff Bauman and Patrick Downes, threw out the ceremonial
first pitch … Ramirez’s homer was his fourth of the year … Before the
game, the Nationals place pitcher Craig Stammen on the 15-day disabled and
recalled pitcher Taylor Jordan from Triple-A Syracuse.
