Red Sox Double Up Nats, 4-2

The Nats were in midseason form, getting good enough starting pitching until the bullpen imploded as the Red Sox handed them a 4-2 loss this afternoon.

After Josiah Gray let in the first run on two hits and two walks (with five whiffs), Thad Ward tossed two scoreless, with one hit, two walks, and four K’s.

Unfortunately, Cole Henry was the weakest link as the 24-y.o. got the blown-save-loss with the last three Boston runs on two homers and four hits total over two innings. He walked none and struck out one.

With the Red Sox fielding a split squad, the Nats put three watchlisters in the starting lineup.

Jacob Young patrolled RF and was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. James Wood walked twice and struck out once as the first DH, losing his hit streak but extending his on-base streak to eight games. He also stole a base. Dylan Crews batted sixth and manned CF but was hitless in two trips to the plate.

Here’s how the rest of watchlisters fared:

• Darren Baker subbed for Luis García Jr. at 2B and struck out in his lone at-bat
• Yohandy Morales was the second DH, drawing a walk in only plate appearance
• Drew Millas followed Riley Adams behind the plate and went 0-for-1 with a whiff
• Trey Lipscomb subbed for Nasim Nuñez and singled with two out in the 9th
• Elijah Green replaced Crews in CF and picked up where he left off in ’23 with a strikeout to end the game
• Daylen Lile subbed for Young in RF and left the game after tumbling over the bullpen wall trying to catch the second Boston HR
• Robert Hassell replaced Lile in RF but did not come to the plate
• Brady House followed Carter Kieboom at 3B and grounded out to lead off the 8th
• Mitchell Parker pitched the 8th and retired the side on two flyouts and a popup

Mark Zuckerman has the story on Lile’s prognosis. FWIW, TalkNats noted the Lile was among the viewers of the tweet linked to above (H/T).

Washington returns to West Palm Beach to host Miami tomorrow afternoon. Zach Davies is slated to start. The game will be televised on MASN.