(Not Quite) Instant Analysis: Red Sox 6, Nats 3

Miles Mikolas dug the Nationals into an early hole, and they were never able to climb all the way back in dropping the series opener at Fenway Park

Photo by Grace Navarro / ALL-PRO REELS

BOSTON – The Nationals opened tonight’s series opener at Fenway Park with a bang. And then closed it with a whimper.

Despite getting a leadoff homer from James Wood for a quick lead in the top of the first, the Nats watched as Miles Mikolas immediately gave up four runs in the bottom of the first (via home runs from Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin). They never fully recovered en route to a nondescript loss to begin this three-game series.

“Obviously, the first inning didn’t go the way (Mikolas) would’ve liked,” Wood said. “But from there on, he was getting quick outs, getting us back in the dugout. And we just weren’t able to do enough.”

Mikolas dug his team into a significant hole with six runs allowed through the game’s first three innings. The veteran right-hander did rebound enough to churn out seven innings and prevent Blake Butera from having to use his bullpen for more than one frame, but he nevertheless allowed five or more runs for the third time in six outings.

“They were obviously trying to attack him early in counts,” Butera said. “But glad that he could settle in after the third and get through seven and save the bullpen a little.”

Ranger Suarez, meanwhile, quickly recovered from Wood’s leadoff homer to hold the Nationals hitless until the top of the sixth. The left-hander finished with three runs allowed over six frames as the Boston rotation recorded its 12 consecutive quality start.

“Just a tough at-bat from the left side,” Butera said. “He’s able to mix speeds pretty well and move the ball around the zone a ton. He doesn’t leave much over the center of the plate. And when he does, there’s some type of movement on it, whether it’s cutting or sinking. He just kept us off-balance.”

HITTING LOWLIGHT: When the recently slumping Wood led off the game with his towering blast, you figured this was going to be a good night for the Nats lineup.

“It felt like I hadn’t put a swing on a ball like that in a little bit,” he said of his 441-foot homer over the right-field bullpen. “The process the past day-and-a-half has been a lot better, but it’s good to see results.”

Well, not so much for everyone else. Suarez shrugged off that leadoff homer and proceeded to retire 15 of the next 16 batters he faced, the lone blemish an Andrés Chaparro walk in the fourth. The Nationals did get something going in the sixth, highlighted by CJ Abrams’ two-run double (which snapped an 0-for-15 slump).

“I thought CJ’s last two at-bats were awesome,” Butera said. “You saw when he got to second base there, he kind of exhaled a little bit and was like, ‘Finally.’”

But with a chance to complete the rally and really make things interesting, Dylan Crews hit a soft liner to second and Jacob Young hit a tapper back to the mound to strand a pair in scoring position. The Nats never seriously threatened again after that.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: The way his evening began, there’s no way you would’ve expected Mikolas to make it through seven innings. But he did, and while the final line wasn’t anything to write home about, the mere fact he was able to eat up innings and give the bullpen a breather had real value.

“There’s a lot,” Butera said. “And the way we’ve been swinging the bat, just to be able to keep it there and give us a shot to come back. … And then, of course, saving the bullpen for these next two days.”

Mikolas’ first couple innings, to be clear, were a disaster. The Red Sox hit five balls at least 101 mph off him through the first two innings alone, with Contreras and Durbin each taking him deep. But once he found himself trailing, Mikolas found a way to work fast and get quick outs and somewhat salvage this outing. He wound up retiring 14 consecutive batters, throwing only 36 pitches over his last four frames. And he became the first National to complete at least seven innings while allowing six or more runs since Tanner Roark on July 3, 2018 … also against the Red Sox.

“If I want to feel bad about it, I can look at the bottom line,” Mikolas said. “If I want to feel good about it, I can look at the fact I didn’t tail and run. Bear down, I got through seven, keep the bullpen fresh for the rest of the series. Hopefully we can win these next two games.”

NOTABLE: Luis García Jr., who earlier in the day was named NL Player of the Week after hitting six homers in his last six games, got a rare start against a left-hander tonight, though he was dropped down to the No. 7 spot in the lineup. This was only the third time García has started vs. a lefty this season, the first time since April 19 against the Giants’ Robbie Ray.

UP NEXT: Cade Cavalli will take the mound Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. for the second game of the series. He’ll be opposed by Connelly Early, the second of three straight lefties the Red Sox are scheduled to start. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM