Nationals snap slump in big way with 22 hits
Juan Soto homered and the Washington Nationals pounded out a season-high 22 hits, ending an eight-game losing streak by beating the virus-ravaged San Francisco Giants 14-4 Friday night.
Jason Vosler and Joey Bart homered for the Giants, who played without several regulars due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt and reliever Dominic Leone joined outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and reliever Zack Littell on the COVID-19 injured list before the game. All four players are vaccinated and boosted. Giants outfielder Steven Duggar, currently on the 60-day injured list, also tested positive.
“We recognize that we’re going to be compromised from a roster perspective, but that we’ve been compromised before,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said.
Victor Robles went 4 for 5, driving in three runs and scoring three times. Josh Bell and Maikel Franco also had four hits while César Hernández and Alcides Escobar added three each.
“It felt great,” Robles said through a translator. “You’re happy about your teammates playing well and then they start cheering for you and giving you a little bit of momentum.”
The Nationals’ 14 runs were also a season best. Washington had scored just 16 total runs during its eight-game skid.
Aaron Sanchez (1-1), who pitched for the Giants last season, gave up three runs in five innings.
Alex Wood (2-1) allowed five earned runs in five innings as San Francisco’s six-game winning streak against Washington came to an end.
Red Sox 3, Orioles 1: Christian Arroyo ended Boston’s long-ball drought with a two-run shot, and Rich Hill combined with four relievers on a five-hitter to help the Red Sox win in Baltimore.
Arroyo hit his first homer of the season in the second inning to provide the Red Sox with all the offense they needed to saddle the Orioles with their fifth straight defeat. It was Boston’s first home run in seven games and only its second in the last 11.
The Red Sox, a team usually known for its power, came in with only 11 homers — tied for third-fewest in the majors.
Although Boston could only tack on an unearned run to Arroyo’s drive over the center-field wall, it was enough to back a fine
job on the mound by Hill and the Red Sox bullpen.
Hill opened by retiring the first 12 batters he faced. After Austin Hays led off the fifth with an infield hit, Tanner Houck (2-1) came in to pitch three innings of two-hit ball. Houck had been on the restricted list during the team’s trip to Toronto earlier in the week because he has not been vaccinated.
Baltimore wasted a strong effort by right-hander Kyle Bradish (0-1), who allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits over six innings in his major league debut. Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, the 25-year-old righty settled down nicely after the Red Sox got four hits in a three-run second inning.