After surrendering six fifth-inning runs to the Washington Nationals to fall behind 7-5, the Boston Red Sox got help from the Nationals' defense to reclaim the lead in the seventh and eventually win 8-7. 

Boston scored three runs in the seventh inning without the benefit of a hit thanks to some shotty play by pitcher Blake Treinen and shortstop Ian Desmond.

With the bases loaded and one out, Boston's Ryan Hanigan tapped a weak ground ball well in front of the mound (video). Treinen charged and appeared to have a force out at the plate. Treinen bobbled the ball, and rather than getting the still-easy out at first, he tried to flip the ball to catcher Wilson Ramos. The throw was wild and bounced into the stands, allowing Hanley Ramirez and Shane Victorino to score and tie the game at 7-7.

Ramirez had reached on Desmond's error to start the inning. Victorino and Allen Craig were both hit by Treinen pitches to load the bases. 

Brock Holt followed Treinen's double error with a routine ground ball to short (video). Desmond fielded the ball well into the grass and had a clear throw to home to nail Craig, still only half way down the baseline. Desmond, though, double-clutched and ended up getting Holt at first. Craig scored the eventual game-winning run on the RBI groundout. 

Boston jumped out to a 5-1 lead with two runs in the second (Mookie Betts, two-run double), two in the third (Daniel Nava and Hanigan RBI singles), and one in the fourth (Dustin Pedroia solo home run, 3). 

Washington scored first when Michael Taylor singled home Danny Espinosa in the top of the second. They rallied for six runs after loading the bases with one out in the fifth. Clint Robinson singled in Jayson Werth. Ramos's ground out brought home Bryce Harper. Desmond followed with a two-run single to plate Ryan Zimmerman and Robinson.

With his team still batting with two outs and the game tied at 5-5, Taylor batted for the second time in the inning and drove a two-run double to center. Desmond and Espinosa scored the two go-ahead runs, but that leaded faded in on Treinan's double error in the seventh.

Edward Mujica (W: 1-0, 4.15 ERA) picked up the win in relief. He pitched the top of the seventh and benefited from the Nationals' miscues. Koji Uehara (S: 1, 0.00) made his season debut returning from injury and pitched a perfect ninth for the save. Harper drove a ball over the left-field fence for a potential game-tying home run, but it hooked foul just in front of the pole. No Carlton Fisk ghost arrived to help Harper, and replay challenge confirmed the umpire's call.

Starter Justin Masterson pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits while walking three and fanning four. He has an ERA of 7.59 so far in two starts.

Trienen (L: 0-1, 3.86 ERA) blew the save (2) and took the loss. He lasted 1 2/3 innings, getting one unearned run charged to him. Starter Stephen Strasburg has not pitched up to his potential yet, but the season is very young. Strasburg lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits, including Pedroia's home run. He walked none and fanned five. Strasburg has a 6.75 ERA after two starts.

The series concludes Wednesday with Washington's Gio Gonzalez (0-1, 4.26) taking on Boston's Wade Miley (0-0, 3.38). The game begins at 12:15 p.m. EDT.