Desmond, Moore homer as Nats top Red Sox 10-5

BOSTON - It's been a fast start for the Nationals at Fenway Park this afternoon.

Third baseman Yunel Escobar drew a leadoff walk against Red Sox starter Wade Miley. A groundout from stortstop Ian Desmond and a lineout from designated hitter Jayson Werth advanced Escobar to third. Escobar was able to score easily when right fielder Bryce Harper hit a rocket off the center field wall for a two-out RBI double. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman followed by slicing a ball deep down the right field line for a triple, plating Harper.

Update: It didn't take long for the Nats' ugly fielding problems to surface in this one. Red Sox designated hitter Mike Napoli led off the second with a hard shot to deep center field. Michael A. Taylor backtracked and seemed to have a beat on it, but but couldn't come down with the ball. It was ruled a triple, but should have been an out.

Right fielder Shane Victorino then singled home Napoli to put the Red Sox on the board. One batter later, shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit a chopper to Escobar, who hurried his throw into the Red Sox dugout, leaving runners at second and third with no outs.

Catcher Sandy Leon tied the game on a groundout to Desmond that scored Victorino.

The Nats responded in a big way in the third. Desmond got things going with a big blast off Miley that easily sailed over the Green Monster for a solo homer, his first of the year. A single from Werth and back-to-back walks to Harper and Zimmerman left the bases loaded for catcher Wilson Ramos, who delivered with a three-run double down the left field line.

Red Sox manager John Farrell ended Miley's day early and called for right-hander Anthony Varvaro, but the Nats weren't finished. Consecutive doubles from second baseman Dan Uggla and Taylor led to two more Nats runs.

It was the second time in as many nights that the Nats scored six runs in one inning.

Update II: Nats starter Gio Gonzalez gave up a double to second baseman Dustin Pedroia with two outs in the fifth and then Ramirez turned on a first-pitch breaking ball for a line drive homer over the Monster to cut the lead in half.

Update III: A leadoff walk to Napoli in the sixth would haunt Gonzalez as again he struggled to get the third out. Red Sox third baseman Brock Holt roped a two-out ground-rule double to right-center field, scoring Napoli to cut the Nats' lead to three.

Gonzalez was able to get Leon to ground out on a nice play by Escobar to end the third. It's most likely the last we'll see of Gonzalez this afternoon. He's allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Right-hander Rafael Martin is warming in the Nats bullpen and set to make his major league debut at Fenway Park.

Left fielder Tyler Moore gave the Nats some insurance when he crushed a 2-2 offering from Red Sox right-hander Robbie Ross well over the wall in deep left-center for a two-run homer. It's Moore's first homer of the year.

Update IV: Not a bad major league debut for the 30-year-old Martin. He got center fielder Mookie Betts to fly out to center on a ball that seemed like a easy play for Harper, but was instead made into a difficult one by Taylor, who cut in front of him to make the catch. Safe to say Taylor will be relieved to leave Fenway Park after having an adventure in center field the last three days.

Martin did give up a single to Pedroia but came back to strike out Ramirez and Craig to end the inning.

The Nationals lead the Red Sox 10-5 in the eighth.

Update V: It's a 10-5 final and the Nationals avoid being swept at Fenway Park.