J.D. Martinez Pounds 26th Home Run As Red Sox Roll Past Nationals
J.D. Martinez swatted his league-leading 26th home run of the year and Eduardo Nunez and Xander Bogaerts each hit a three-run bomb as the Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals 11-4 on Tuesday night.
Nunez led off the scoring with a homer to left center field in the top of the second, his sixth round-tripper of the year.
The Nationals got RBI singles from Mark Reynolds and Tanner Roark in the fourth, cutting Washington deficit to 3-2.
The Red Sox regained the lead in the top of the fifth on a two-run single by Martinez, who came around to score when the next batter, Steve Pearce, belted a line drive single to right field.
The Red Sox continued to do damage in the fifth, as Bogaerts connected on his 13th home run of the season to gave the Red Sox a 9-2 cushion.
Martinez piled on by crushing a pitch from Matt Grace to deep left center field, giving the Red Sox an 11-3 lead.
The blast moved Martinez into a tie for the third-most home runs by a Red Sox before the All-Star break, trailing only David Ortiz (31 in 2006) and Carl Yastrzemski (29 in 1969).
Brian Johnson started the game for the Red Sox, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out two in 4.2 innings.
Brandon Workman got the win after pitching a scoreless seventh.