Nats sweep weekend series with Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) — Bobby Valentine called for a review and can just about count on getting one.

Valentine's ejection and heated argument with umpire Al Porter, then what the Boston manager said afterward are expected to get a long look from major league officials.

Valentine was kicked out of the game with two outs in the ninth of a 4-3 loss to Washington, completing a three-game sweep by the Nationals.

Valentine said his frustration had been building throughout the weekend, culminating with a face-to-face tirade with Porter.

"It's not right," Valentine said. "Good umpires had a real bad series this series — a real bad series — and it went one way. There should be a review."

Valentine was still fuming over a call in the top of the ninth when Washington scored the go-ahead run on Roger Bernadina's two-out double scored Bryce Harper from first with the go-ahead run.

Valentine felt Bernadina should have been called out on Alfredo Aceves' 2-2 fastball.

Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who struck out four times, backed Valentine, although he chose his words much more carefully.

"Nobody's perfect and we understand that," Saltalamacchia said. "We're not asking to expand the strike zone. We're not asking him to completely tighten it up. We're just asking for him to be equal on both sides."

Danny Espinosa doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Nationals, who as a franchise had never won at Fenway Park entering the series.

Harper, Washington's rookie phenom, was out of the starting lineup because of tightness in his back. He pinch-hit for Tyler Moore with one out in the top of the ninth and drew a walk from Aceves.

Aceves (0-4) struck out Jesus Flores for the second out, but Bernadina doubled to the right-field corner and Harper came all the way from first, sliding safely into home to put the Nationals up 4-3.

Reliever Tom Gorzelanny (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Tyler Clippard closed the game with his third save of the series, striking out Dustin Pedroia to end it.

The Montreal Expos went 0-6 at Fenway and the Nationals were 0-3 in the iconic ballpark since the franchise's move to Washington.

The Red Sox went 1-5 during the homestand.

David Ortiz hit his 14th homer of the season for the Red Sox, who couldn't hang on to a 2-1 lead. Espinosa hit a two-out double with two runners on in the seventh, putting Washington up 3-2.

Boston tied it in the bottom half after Ryan Sweeney and Nick Punto hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, but Sweeney was the only one to score, coming home on a fielder's choice by Scott Podsednik.

Notes: Daniel Nava was a late scratch from the Red Sox lineup with a sore left hand. Darnell McDonald replaced Nava in left field and Podsednik moved up to the leadoff spot in his place. ... The Red Sox head to Miami for a three-game series with the Marlins, starting Monday. The Nationals will continue on their journey through the AL East with a trip to Toronto for three games against the Blue Jays.

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