Final: Red Sox 4, Nationals 2 - Devers hits line drive single in the 8th inning to put the Red Sox on top

Trevor's Game Notes:

Clutch: Rafael Devers gave the Red Sox their first lead of the game after hitting a line drive single over National's Left Fielder Eddie Rosario. Devers is the only Red Sox to record multiple hits in today's game.

Staying undefeated: The Red Sox are now 4-0 when Cooper Criswell starts the game. Criswell had another great game, striking out 9 batters in 5 innings and only giving up 2 runs. For a pitcher who was suppose to be a "spot starter," he pitching he has provided the Red Sox has more than exceeded expectations. The bullpen did a great job keeping the score to only 2 run, getting quality innings from Brennan Bernardino, Justin Slaten and Chris Martin. Kenley Jansen closed the game in the 9th inning, striking out 2 batters and picking up his 6th save of the year. 

Great bounce back win for the Red Sox to end their losing streak.

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WHO: Red Sox (19-19) vs. Washington Nationals (19-18)
WHEN: 4:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE: 0-1 (0-1/0-0)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Cooper Criswell (2-1, 1.74) vs. RHP Jake Irvin (2-3, 3.72)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran (L) CF
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Tyler O'Neill (R) LF
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
Vaughn Grissom (R) DH
Dominic Smith (L) 1B
Reese McGuire (L) C
David Hamilton (L) 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) SS

SP Cooper Criswell

Nationals

J Young (R) CF
C Abrams (L) SS
L García Jr. (L) 2B
J Meneses (R) 1B
J Winker (L) DH
K Ruiz (S) C
E Rosario (L) LF
T Lipscomb (R) 3B
V Robles (R) RF

SP Jake Irvin

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox have lost each of their last 3 games and 6 of their last 7. They’re 10-10 in their last 20. The Sox last night began a 7-game homestand vs.Washington (3 games) and TB (4). Boston lost each of its previous 2 series (1-2 at Minnesota, 0-2 at Atlanta).

The Sox lost the series opener against the Nationals last night, 5-1. Tanner Houck allowed 3 R in 7.0 IP (6 H, BB, 4 SO). It was his 7th quality start of the season, tied for most in MLB with Tyler Glasnow, Seth Lugo, and Ranger Suárez. Garrett Cooper (1-for-3) hit an RBI double in the 4th inning, scoring Connor Wong (2-for-4).

Boston went 1-for-9 with RISP last night. They’re 2-for-29 with RISP in their last 3 games. The Sox  have hit .158 (9-for-57) with RISP over the last 7 games, after batting .269 (35-for-130) with RISP over the previous 12.

Ceddanne Rafaela is on a career-long 8-game hitting streak (.321 AVG, .809 OPS),the 2nd-longest active streak in the AL and 3rd-longest in MLB (Max Kepler-12 games, Ketel Marte-11). Rob Refsnyder owns a 14-game on-base streak, tied with Anthony Rendon for the longest active streak in the AL and 5th-longest in MLB. He owns a .469 OBP during the streak (13-for-39, 9 BB, HBP, .333 AVG, 1.059 OPS).

The Red Sox are 4-0 when Cooper Criswell starts. He has a 1.47 ERA as a starter (3 ER/18.1 IP). Criswell tossed back-to-back scoreless outings of 5.0 innings from 4/24-30...Is the 1st Red Sox to start a team shutout in consecutive outings since Eduardo Rodriguez in August 2019. He's held opponents to a .234 AVG (18-for-77, 2 HR)...Lefties have a .217 AVG/.504 OPS (10-for-46, 1 XBH, 11 SO) and righties have a .258 AVG/.787 OPS (8-for-31, 3 XBH, 5 SO).

 Brayan Bello made a rehab start on Tuesday with Double-A Portland (2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO). In his last 3 starts before landing on the 15-Day IL with right lat tightness, Bello allowed only 3 ER in 16.2 IP (1.62 ERA) with 18 SO and 6 BB.