Chris Sale can’t get through the 5th, Nationals top Red Sox 10-7

Crimson Sox

By BEN NUCKOLS, Related Press

August 17, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Crimson Sox didn’t do a lot on the commerce deadline, however they’d affordable expectations that getting Chris Sale and Trevor Story again from accidents would convey some vitality to their postseason push.

It didn’t work out that method throughout a sequence at Washington.

Sale couldn’t make it by the fifth inning in his second begin again from a shoulder harm, and Boston suffered one other blow to its playoff hopes, shedding 10-7 on Thursday and dropping two of three to the last-place Nationals.

The Crimson Sox fell to 7-8 in August and slipped 3 1/2 video games behind AL East rival Toronto for the ultimate wild-card spot. Story, who had offseason shoulder surgical procedure and made his season debut on Aug. 8, went 0 for five and was hitless within the three-game sequence.

“It’s actually on to the subsequent,” Story stated. “I feel if we play the best way that we need to play and the best way we are able to, then we’ll be the place we need to be when the postseason comes.”

Luis Urías hit a grand slam within the seventh inning as Boston tried to rally from eight runs down, a two-out shot to left-center off Robert Garcia. It was the primary profession grand slam for Urías, a backup infielder who was acquired from Seattle on the deadline. Two batters later, Rafael Devers added a 453-foot, two-run homer to get the Crimson Sox inside 9-7.

“That’s what these guys do. They’ll hit the ball. After they get one thing going, they’ll rating on you actually fast,” Nationals supervisor Dave Martinez stated. “The nice factor is, we scored extra right this moment.”

Trailing 10-7 getting into the ninth, Boston made one final push in opposition to Kyle Finnegan. Connor Wong led off with a single and pinch-hitter Jarren Duran broke out of a 2-for-27 hunch with a double. However Finnegan retired the subsequent three batters to safe his nineteenth save in 26 possibilities.

“To beat these guys two out of three video games, it’s fairly superior,” Martinez stated.

Sale (5-3) was anticipated to throw about 75 pitches however was lifted with one out within the fifth after he walked Alex Name and Jeter Downs and retired Lane Thomas on a flyball together with his sixty fifth providing.

Sale’s first two pitches to No. 9 hitter Downs, who was making an attempt to bunt, appeared to catch the highest of the strike zone however have been known as balls by plate umpire Mark Wegner.

“I’m not going to get into that. I’ll allow you to guys be the decide of that,” Sale stated to reporters.

Josh Winckowski got here in and gave up a tiebreaking two-run double to Joey Meneses, the primary of 4 straight hits by the Nationals, who scored 5 instances within the inning.

“Tremendous irritating. I’m not even actually too upset concerning the runs I gave. Extra upset about his, for certain,” Winckowski stated.

The Crimson Sox are fourth within the AL East, forward of solely the imploding Yankees. Boston heads to New York for a three-game sequence in opposition to its rival beginning Friday.

“So long as we acquired an opportunity, I like the place we’re at,” Sale stated. “Even right this moment, it confirmed. … We stored preventing again.”

Meneses drove in 5 runs and Patrick Corbin (8-11) pitched six sharp innings for the rebuilding Nationals, who’ve received 14 of 17 at house and improved to 21-13 since July 8.

Keibert Ruiz went 3 for 3 for Washington, extending his hitting streak to seven video games. He’s 13 for 28 over that span. Stone Garrett drove in three runs.

Rookie Triston Casas hit his twentieth homer of the season for the Crimson Sox within the third. That was Boston’s solely run in opposition to Corbin, who gave up 4 hits, struck out six and walked none.

“I believed we did a great job mixing up fastball in and out, getting forward,” Corbin stated. “Happy general. It was nice to see the offense put up these runs, and we have been capable of maintain on.”

Sale was charged with three runs, two earned. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out three.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Crimson Sox: Cora stated the workforce was offering help for Duran, who indicated on social media that he was struggling mentally. He was out of the lineup Wednesday and Thursday in opposition to left-handed starters. He shall be within the lineup this weekend in opposition to the Yankees, Cora stated. … Justin Turner, restricted to DH obligation due to a bone bruise in his left heel, acquired the day without work.

Nationals: OF Victor Robles, out since June 21 with lumbar backbone again spasms, nonetheless has not resumed baseball actions.

UP NEXT

Crimson Sox: RHP Brayan Bello (8-7, 3.81 ERA) begins Friday in opposition to the Yankees, who haven’t introduced a starter.

Nationals: Host Philadelphia on Friday within the opener of a sequence that may conclude with Sunday’s Little League Traditional in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Joan Adon (1-0, 5.15) is about to begin for Washington in opposition to Michael Lorenzen (7-7, 3.23), who shall be making his first begin since he no-hit the Nationals at Philadelphia on Aug. 9.