Nats top Red Sox 4-2, earn another series win

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

June 09, 2012, 3:01pm

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BOSTON - Bench coach Randy Knorr joked before today's game that the Nationals have rarely had a game this season where they've been leading big in the late innings and could calmly roll to a win. The 10-2 victories this season have been very few and very far between. A 4-2 win might put more strain on the bullpen - and the manager - but it is still a win. And the Nats will gladly take today's 4-2 win over the Red Sox. Adam LaRoche hit a solo homer, Michael Morse drove in a run with an RBI double in the fourth and Ian Desmond followed with a big two-run single. It could've been made a bit easier if the Nats hadn't seen their last 15 hitters go down in order or if they'd gotten another inning or two out of starter Gio Gonzalez, who cruised through four frames, retiring 12 of the 13 hitters he faced before fading a bit in the middle innings. Gonzalez ended up getting stuck with two earned runs which scored once he left in the seventh inning, making what was a 4-0 Nats' lead a much tighter game. But with the help of Michael Gonzalez, Sean Burnett and Tyler Clippard, the Nats were able to close out the win and earn yet another series win, their 13th of the season. They'll try to go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon, and will send Jordan Zimmermann to the hill to oppose Jon Lester.