G71: Red Sox 6, Nationals 4

Red Sox   - 000 312 000 - 6  7  0
Nationals - 010 002 100 - 4  8  0

David Ortiz crushed a three-run home run in the fourth, Jason Varitek hit a two-run dong in the sixth and the Sox bullpen, in relief of Lester (6-6-3-2-6, 103) held back the Nats.

Jacoby Ellsbury made two nice running catches to keep the score at 6-4. With a runner of third and two outs in the seventh, Ryan Zimmerman drove the ball to deep left center, but LBJ ran it down, banging into the wall. With one out on the bottom of the ninth, Willie Harris's drive to deep right-center was also hauled in.

Ortiz now has 1,002 career RBI and 296 career home runs. He also singled and scored in the sixth on Tek's dong. ... Dustin Pedroia had a double and an RBI-single. ... Jason Bay struck out three times and went 0-for-4.

The Yankees and Blue Jays both won, so Boston stays 5 GA in the East.

***

Jon Lester (4.69, 100 ERA+) / Craig Stammen (4.76, 91 ERA+)

Stammen is a rookie right-hander who has made only six starts. He debuted May 21.

Oatmeal:

Pedroia, 2B
Drew, RF
Youkilis, 3B
Bay, LF
Ortiz, 1B
Varitek, C
Ellsbury, CF
Green, SS
Lester, P