WASHINGTON — Instant reactions as the Red Sox use a balanced offensive attack — and big days from Lucas Giolito and Trevor Story — to rout the Nationals, 11-2, on the Fourth of July in D.C.:
1) Just about everyone in the Red Sox’ lineup got in on the action on a day when the club had 16 hits. But no one had a bigger game than Story, who led the club with four hits (and four RBIs) — including a two-run homer off Ryan Loutos in the top of the eighth inning.
Story singled, stole second and scored in the first, hit a two-run single in Boston’s big fifth inning, singled again in the sixth and capped off his day with his 13th blast of the year. It was his first four-hit game since August 13, 2023 — and just his third as a member of the Red Sox. Story had never had a four-hit, four-RBI game before Friday.
2) Pitching at Nationals Park for the first time since 2016, when he broke into the majors as a rookie with Washington, Lucas Giolito continued a dominant stretch. After allowing two earned runs in his final four starts (25 innings) of June, the veteran stymied a young Nationals lineup for 7 ⅔ innings, allowing a single run on four hits. It was his longest outing since August 9, 2021, when he went eight innings for the White Sox.
Giolito has now given the Red Sox six or more innings in five straight starts. On Friday, he struck out seven, walked three and tossed 108 pitches (75 strikes).
Giolito’s ERA was at 6.42 after a blow-up outing against the Angels on June 4. It’s now 3.66. It has been said before but it’s worth repeating: Giolito has emerged as the Sox’ much-needed No. 2 starter behind ace Garrett Crochet.
3) The Red Sox celebrated Independence Day with a hit parade against Nationals starter Mike Soroka and reliever Zach Brzykcy.
A two-run second inning (bringing Boston’s hit total to five through two frames) was a tone-setter for a breakout in the fifth, when Boston batted around and scored seven runs on six hits and three walks.
The first six batters of the inning reached, including Roman Anthony on a leadoff double and Story on his two-run single. It was the Sox’ second seven-run inning in five days after doing it in the first inning Monday against the Reds.
4) Everyone in the starting lineup reached base at least once. Story led the way and Jarren Duran was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. It’s hard to score nine runs in five innings with just three extra-base hits (all doubles) but the Red Sox did just that. Story’s homer was their only blast of the day.
Twelve of Boston’s 16 hits came in the first five innings. Eight starters had a hit and six of them (Duran, Anthony, Abraham Toro, Carlos Narváez, Story and Marcelo Mayer) had multiple knocks. Anthony (two hits, two walks) reached base four times.
5) Story’s speed, at 32, can still be game-changing. He stole second to set up Boston’s first run in the second and is now 14-for-14 on stolen base attempts this season. The Sox are just past the midway point but Story has the most steals he has had in since 2021 and might eclipse his career-high of 27 (2018).
6) David Hamilton has started 11 of the last 16 games at second base since Kristian Campbell was demoted but might not have that much playing time for long. When Alex Bregman is activated (potentially as soon as next week), it makes sense for Boston to shift Marcelo Mayer to second base on a full-time basis.
Hamilton is playing out of necessity, but his leash would likely be getting short regardless of Bregman’s return. He misplayed a hard-hit Josh Bell grounder in the fourth that should have been an error and was ruled a hit. Hamilton did steal two bases in the win.
7) It was another all-around good game for center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who opened the scoring for the Sox with an RBI double in the second and made a very nice, over-the-shoulder catch in deep center on a Luis García Jr. fly ball (sacrifice fly) in the sixth.
8) Justin Wilson, who hadn’t pitched since June 24 due to a nagging injury (but didn’t go on the injured list) returned and got the final out of the eighth inning in relief of Giolito on four pitches.
9) The Red Sox will send Walker Buehler (5-6, 6.45 ERA) to the mound Saturday in what could be a make-or-break outing when it comes to his future in Boston’s rotation. Washington will start left-hander Mitchell Parker (5-8, 4.63 ERA). First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. ET.
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