Nothing was going to happen against Cade Cavalli. For seven innings at Fenway Park on Tuesday, the Washington right-hander was untouchable, and when the offense finally broke through in the late innings, the result was never in doubt. Washington defeated Boston 8-1, with Cavalli's performance setting the tone from the first pitch.
Cavalli allowed just 1 hit over 7.0 innings, walked nobody, and struck out 13. The one run he allowed was unearned — Anthony Seigler scored on a fielding error by third baseman Mead in the first inning, giving Boston an early lead that Cavalli simply pitched around. He threw 100 pitches and earned his fifth win of the season against four losses, carrying a 3.69 ERA.
Washington tied the game in the fifth when James Wood singled to right and Lile scored. The Nationals then took the lead for good in the seventh. Keibert Ruiz reached on an infield single to first, and Tena scored to put Washington ahead 2-1 — the go-ahead run. Later in the inning, García Jr. doubled to center, scoring Nuñez and Ruiz to push the lead to 4-1. The eighth inning finished it. C. J. Abrams homered to right center, a 402-foot shot, to make it 5-1. Ruiz then doubled to right, scoring Nuñez and Lile, and Wood doubled to center to score Ruiz, capping a four-run eighth and a final score of 8-1. Ruiz finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. Wood went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI.
Boston's bullpen absorbed the damage. Connelly Early worked 4.0 innings, allowing 3 hits and no runs, but Greg Weissert took the loss — his second of the season — allowing 2 runs on 1 hit over 1.2 innings, with a 4.18 ERA. Boston managed only 4 hits on the night and could not solve Cavalli when it mattered.
Washington moved to 43-43 with the win. Boston, despite entering on a five-game winning streak, fell to 37-46. Greg Weissert is 3 games away from 200 career appearances.