The Boston Red Sox won their fifth straight game on Monday to start their series with the Nationals. They improved to 37-46. They’re 12 games back of the Rays for the American League East. They’re 4.5 games back for the final spot in the American League wild card standings.
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MLB Game Recap
The Nationals got on the board in the first with a solo home run. The Red Sox struck right back in the bottom of the first. Willson Contreras crushed a three-run home run, and Caleb Durbin hit a solo home run to make it 4-1. They got another run in the second on a sacrifice fly from Wilyer Abreu. Carlos Narvaez drove home another run in the third with a sacrifice fly. The Nationals scored two more in the sixth on a double, but that was it, and the Red Sox won their fifth straight 6-3.
Ranger Suarez went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out eight. Danny Coulombe, Tyron Guerrero, and Garrett Whitlock combined to go three scoreless innings. They allowed two hits, one walk, and struck out four combined. Whitlock picked up his first save of the season.
Standout Performer
Before his ejection, Contreras hit the big blast that led the Red Sox. He finished going 1-for-2 with the three-run home run and a strikeout.
Key News & Notes
The ejection of Willson Contreras in the second inning was extremely soft. It was awful. Indications were he tapped his helmet after a check swing, then walked back to the dugout, almost signaling he disagreed with the call. The first base umpire took exception and ejected Contreras. It was an awful ejection and just shouldn’t happen.
Durbin’s solo home run was his only hit of the game, but he’s riding a five-game hitting streak and has a hit in 11 of the last 12 games. During that 11-game stretch, he’s 18-42 with four doubles, four home runs, nine RBI, and ten runs scored.
Connelly Early gets the ball tomorrow in the middle game against the Nationals. He’s 7-5 with a 3.59 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and 88 strikeouts in 87.2 innings.
Farm Report
- Worcester Red Sox (AAA): Worcester faces Syracuse this week.
- Portland Sea Dogs (AA): The Sea Dogs face the Curve this week.
- Greenville Drive (A+): The Drive face Winston-Salem this week.
- Salem RidgeYaks (A): The RidgeYaks face the Green Jackets this week.
- FCL Red Sox (ROK): Tavano Baker went 2-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk in an 11-10 win over FCL Braves.
- DSL Red Sox Red (ROK): Anderber Urbina went 1-3 with two RBI, a run scored, and a walk in a 9-6 loss to DSL Brewers Blue.
- DSL Red Sox Blue (ROK): Kevin Morillo went 2-3 with two RBI in a 6-3 loss to DSL Tampa Bay.
