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Red Sox Win 3-0 Over Nationals in Fourth of July Matinee as E-Rod Dominates

Eduardo Rodriguez improved to 10-3 with six shutout innings as the Red Sox won a Fourth of July matinee.

Jul 4, 2018; Washington, DC: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. (Photo Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)

Jul 4, 2018; Washington, DC: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. (Photo Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox scored three late runs to top the Washington Nationals 3-0 in a Fourth of July matinee in the nation's capital. Eduardo Rodriguez improved to 10-3 in the win on the strength of a dominating outing, helping the Red Sox complete a three-game sweep.

After six innings of scoreless baseball, the Red Sox drew first blood when they scratched across a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Rafael Devers scored the game's first run on a sacrifice fly in foul territory by Jackie Bradley Jr., which allowed Eduardo Nunez to reach third base on a delayed throw by Nats left fielder Adam Eaton.

Nunez later scored on a wild pitch by Nationals reliever Ryan Madson to make it 2-0 Sox in the seventh, Then in the ninth, Bradley tacked on an insurance run when Nunez scored all the way from first base on an RBI double.

Rodriguez shut the Nationals down, allowing just three hits and a walk over six shutout innings to lower his season ERA to 3.84. The Red Sox bullpen closed the door with three more scoreless innings, including Craig Kimbrel's 26th save.

Up Next: The Red Sox now head to Kansas City to face the Royals on Friday, with Chris Sale (8-4, 2.41 ERA) taking on Jason Hammel (2-10, 5.56 ERA).


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Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.