Red Sox 5, Nationals 3: Xander Bogaerts’ three-run homer leads Boston back to win column

In what’s certainly been a season to forget for the Red Sox, they produced a rarity on Saturday night.

Their starting pitching, which has mostly failed them, started strong, they scored first and their bullpen didn’t find a way to blow it. A night after being trampled by the defending World Series champions, the Red Sox came through with a wire-to-wire 5-3 victory over the Nationals at Fenway Park.

Here were the takeaways as the Red Sox improved to 11-22:

Xander Bogaerts shouldn’t be going anywhere

The trade deadline is Monday, and the Red Sox, who will be active on the market, have identified Xander Bogaerts as a core player who they want around for years to come. He’s unlikely to be traded, but just in case, the shortstop continued to offer reminders why he should be untouchable.

Bogaerts went 3-for-4 on Saturday, which included a monster homer in the first inning that put the Red Sox on the board and ultimately was the difference. With two runners on, Bogaerts was clearly looking for a fastball on the first pitch he saw from Anibal Sanchez, and he jumped all over the 36-year-old right-hander’s weak offering.

Bogaerts sat on the 89-mph pitch and obliterated it to left-center off the facade in between the Green Monster and center-field seats for a three-run homer to give the Sox an early 3-0 advantage. It was the shortstop’s seventh homer of the season.

Bogaerts, who was his usually reliable defensive self at short, later added a double to bring his average to .357 over his last 11 games, which includes three homers, three doubles and nine RBIs in that span.

Alex Verdugo had another highlight throw

Alex Verdugo may never live up to some fans’ expectations after the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts for him, but the 24-year-old couldn’t have asked for a better first month in Boston.

Both offensively and defensively, Verdugo has surpassed at least initial expectations. His hitting streak ended at 14 games last week, and he’s making plays from the outfield on a regular basis. In a lost season, Verdugo’s effort has never been questioned.

Saturday night, Verdugo was it again, putting his cannon left arm on display. The Red Sox led 5-3 with two outs in the fifth and the Nationals were threatening with runners on first and second when Trea Turner hit a single — his fourth hit of the night — to left. Kurt Suzuki was questionably sent home, and in one motion, Verdugo scooped it up and fired a bullet to the plate on one hop. The throw beat Suzuki by multiple steps as Christian Vazquez easily applied the tag for the last out.

Verdugo, with a smile on his face, rightfully pointed to his arm as he ran off the field and back to the dugout.

Verdugo continued to lead the majors with his seventh outfield assist of the season. No one else had more than fourth going into the night, and Verdugo also has more assists than 27 of 30 MLB teams.

Chris Mazza isn’t really working as an opener

When Chaim Bloom added Chris Mazza off waivers in the offseason, he certainly didn’t plan for him to be starting games for the Red Sox in August. The 30-year-old right-hander was supposed to be an organizational depth piece that wasn’t a sure roster lock.

But that’s what happens when the Red Sox have lost starters the way they have and don’t have many options to replace them. Mazza made his second start of the season Saturday, and after getting rocked by the Yankees in the first one, he had some success before a rough third inning ended his night early again.

Mazza pitched two scoreless innings in the first and second, but things unraveled quickly in the third after Turner leadoff double. Juan Soto then reached on an infield single that Mazza scooped up and threw over first baseman Mitch Moreland’s head, allowing Turner to score. Mazza proceeded to allow the next three batters to reach, which cut the Red Sox’ 4-0 lead to 4-3 quickly. Mazza has now given up seven earned runs on 14 hits in 5⅓ innings as a starter.

Luckily, the Red Sox bullpen backed him up. Darwinzon Hernandez extinguished the fire in the third to lead the ‘pen to 6⅔ scoreless innings of relief.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/32FT3KG