BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 5, Nationals 3 - One step closer

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Nationals, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Sox in driver's seat: The Red Sox' 5-3 win, coupled with the Yankees' loss to Tampa Bay, means the Red Sox truly control their own fate. If, on the final day of the season, the Sox win on Sunday, they will finish as the top wild card seed and host Tuesday's game at Fenway Park. That's because even if the Yankees also win Sunday, the Sox would get the tiebreaker by virtue of having won the season series, 10-9. Saturday's win also ensures that, at the very least, the Red Sox' season will not end Sunday. Should they lose the final game, they're guaranteed of a spot in a play-in game -- depending on what happens with Seattle late Saturday night, and all three teams (New York, Seattle and Toronto) on Sunday. "It feels great,'' said Alex Cora. "Obviously, it was a great week, but we're in this position right now. We've just got to show up tomorrow and win.''

Houck perfect over five: Tanner Houck, making his first start in a couple of weeks, didn't appear at all rusty. He gave the Red Sox five perfect innings, retiring every one of the 15 hitters he faced, including seven by strikeout. He was lifted after just 53 innings, presumably, because the Sox don't wish to see him face a lineup a third time through. That decision nearly backfired on the Red Sox and Alex Cora when the bullpen was shaky over the next few innings before a lost flyball in the lights and some walks by Adam Ottavino led to the Nationals tying the game in the bottom of the eighth. Ultimately, however, the Sox rebounded with four runs of their own in the top of the ninth. But in retrospect, Cora said he wasn't second-guessing himself. "The kid threw 41 pitches the other night in Baltimore,'' said Cora without apology. "He gave five solid.''

Brasier plays Iron Man: For the fourth straight game, Ryan Brasier contributed out of the bullpen, pitching a scoreless seventh but not before extricating himself from a bases-loaded, two-out mess by getting a called third strike on Jordy Mercer. Brasier has been fighting uphil since the off-season, with a broken hard, then the death of his father, then a calf injury, and finally, being struck in the head by a line drive during a simulated game, and he's not about to complain about the workload now. "I've had five months worth of days (to rest),'' said Brasier. "I am more than ready to keep it going, keep pitching in these situations and taking the ball whenever they need me to.'' To show his excitement, Brasier seemed in danger of knocking himself out by punching himself in the chest to celebrate the third strike on Mercer.

TURNING POINT

In the bottom of the eighth, it looked like a mismatch. Lefty Austin Davis was in, facing Juan Soto, arguably the best hitter in the game, with one out and the bases loaded with the Sox clinging to a 1-0 lead. For Davis, it was just his second appearance in the last two weeks. But he limited the damage by getting Soto to hit a deep flyball to the warning track for  a sac fly, then retired Josh Bell on a soft liner to short. The next half-inning, the Sox got that run back, and three more, too.

TWO UP

Christian Vazquez: After the Red Sox allowed the Nationals to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, Vazquez smoked an opposite-field, two-out double in the top of the ninth to give the Sox the lead again.

Kike Hernandez: Hernandez supplied some critical insurance with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth and was on base two other times.

ONE DOWN

Adam Ottavino; The veteran reliever continues to struggle. He faced four hitters and allowed two walks and a hit and was ultimately charged with a run. He's having difficulty with both his slider and commanding his fastball.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"Total team effort. It hasn't been easy. Shit, it hasn't been easy all season.'' Alex Cora. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING 

* The win was the 42nd on the road for the Red Sox.

* The Sox improved to a 15-4 record against NL clubs, the best interleague mark of any team this year.

* Ryan Brasier pitched for the fourth straight day for the first time in his pro career.

* Kike Hernandez became the sixth Red Sox player to reach 20 homers.

UP NEXT

In Game No. 162, set to begin at 3:05 p.m., LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 2.90) vs. TBA for the Nationals.