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Final: Nationals 6, Red Sox 2 - Quick-strike offense opens it up for Washington late
The Red Sox' offense was ice-cold for nearly the entire evening in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Nationals in Washington, struggling to solve Nats youngster MacKenzie Gore, who threw 6.1 scoreless, one-hit innings before exiting the game with an injury. Pablo Reyes' two-run blast in the eighth appeared to give Boston life after a pair of solo shots for Stone Garrett and old friend Michael Chavis earlier in the contest, but Garrett Whitlock struggled in a four-run eighth inning for the Nats, thanks to a three-run shot for Keibert Ruiz and another solo homer for Garett. James Paxton gave up five hits and two runs with three strikeouts and a walk in six innings of work.
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WHO: Red Sox (63-56) at Nationals (53-67)
WHEN: 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Nationals Park
SERIES TO DATE: Red Sox lead 1-0
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP James Paxton (7-3, 3.336) vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore (6-9, 4.62)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
1. Rob Refsnyder LF
2. Justin Turner DH
3. Rafael Devers 3B
4. Trevor Story SS
5. Adam Duvall CF
6. Alex Verdugo RF
7. Pablo Reyes 2B
8. Triston Casas 1B
9. Connor Wong C
SP James Paxton
Nationals
1. CJ Abrams SS
2. Lane Thomas RF
3. Joey Meneses DH
4. Keibert Ruiz C
5. Stone Garrett LF
6. Dominic Smith 1B
7. Ildemaro Vargas 3B
8. Michael Chavis 2B
9. Alex Call 2B
SP MacKenzie Gore
WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox' road trip continues with their second of three games in Washington against the Nationals after taking Tuesday's opener, 5-4.
Boston remains 3.0 games back of Toronto for the final AL Wild Card spot. The Sox are winners of two in a row and six of eight. The Nats had won seven of 10 entering the series. Boston has a six-game winning streak going against Washington entering tonight's game.
Paxton went 5.1 scoreless innings against Kansas City last time out, giving up six hits with six strikeouts and no walks. He has a 2.95 ERA over his last four outings. In one career start against Washington, he gave up three runs on five hits in one innig.
Gore has never faced the Sox. In his last outing at Philadelphia, he went 5.0 innings, giving up seven hits, six runs (earned), three home runs and one walk with five strikeouts.