(USA Today Sports)
Final: Red Sox 1, Nationals 5 - Red Sox only score 1 run off struggling starter
Trevor's Game Notes:
Struggling bats: The Red Sox only scored 1 run against Patrick Corbin, who was 0-3 with 6.45 ERA entering the game. Boston was completely shut down by the National's bullpen, getting no runners on base multiple innings in multiple innings. Considering the pitching performance Houck had, on the mound it's frustrating to only get 1 run in this game.
Strong Start: Tanner Houck had another strong, quality start despite getting the L in the game. The righty starter pitches through the 7th inning, giving up 3 earned runs, striking out 4 batters and walking 1. Houck struggled in the 2nd and 3rd inning giving up multiple base hits, but mostly managed to create soft contact plays that the Red Sox infield was able to field without any issues.
Relieving miscues: Kenley Jansen pitched the last inning for the Red Sox, allowing 2 runs in the lone inning.Control became an issue for the Sox closer, as the first run he gave up was from a wild pitch.Jansen's ERA is now up to 3.09.
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WHO: Red Sox (19-18) vs. Washington Nationals (18-18)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE: 1-2 in 2023 (0-0/1-2)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Tanner Houck (3-3, 1.99) vs. LHP Patrick Corbin (0-3, 6.45)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Jarren Duran (L) LF
Rob Refsnyder (R) DH
Tyler O'Neill (R) RF
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
Connor Wong (R) C
Vaughn Grissom (R) 2B
Garrett Cooper (R) 1B
Romy Gonzalez (R) SS
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
SP Tanner Houck
OPPONENT
Jacob Young (R) CF
CJ Abrams (L) SS
Luis García Jr. (L) 2B
Joey Meneses (R) 1B
Jesse Winker (L) DH
Keibert Ruiz (S) C
Eddie Rosario (L) LF
Trey Lipscomb (R) 3B
Victor Robles (R) RF
SP Patrick Corbin
WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox have lost 5 of their last 6 games.They’re 5-5 in their last 10 and 10-10 in their last 20. Boston was swept in a 2-game series at Atlanta and went 1-4 on a 5-game road trip (also 1-2 at Minnesota). Tonight, the Sox begin a 7-game homestand vs. Washington(3 games) and TB (4).
The Red Sox lost to the Braves on Wednesday night in Atlanta, 5-0. Nick Pivetta was reinstated from the IL and made his 1st start since 4/3 (4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, BB, SO). Four Red Sox relievers made scoreless appearances: Josh Winckowski (1.0 IP, H, BB), Cam Booser (1.0 IP, H, SO), Chris Martin (1.0 IP, SO), and Chase Anderson (1.0 IP).
Tanner Houck has made 6 quality starts this season, tied for 2nd most in MLB (KC’s Seth Lugo-7). He’s thrown at least 5.2 innings in each of his 7 starts. In his last 8 starts, beginning 10/1/23, Houck is 4-3 with a 1.75 ERA, 52 SO, and a .200 opponent AVG (see below).
Masataka Yoshida announced to the Japanese media that he will not need surgery for his left thumb. Yoshida was placed on Boston’s 10-day injured list a week ago with a strained left thumb. Alex Cora said he will “see how [Yoshida] feels in a few weeks.”
Ceddanne Rafaela extended his hitting streak to a career-long 7 games Wednesday with a single in the 5th inning. He has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games, batting .351 with a .964 OPS in that span (13-for-37, 4 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI). Rafaela ranks T-1st among rookies in RBI (20-also Cowser) and ranks T-4th in hits (27).