Outfielder Masataka Yoshida had his first multi-hit contest in nine games, but the Boston Red Sox fell 10-7 to the Washington Nationals on Thursday.
Yoshida, a two-time batting champion in Japan's Pacific League, went 2-for-4 with a pair of opposite-field singles to left at Nationals Park, bringing his average back to .300.
"I got two hits, but I'm still not getting a launch angle," said Yoshida, who has slowed down at the plate in August. "The balls I hit just found holes."
"I don't feel good about my recent at-bats. I know it's important to stay patient."
Joey Meneses had two doubles and drove in five runs to lead the offense for the Nationals.
Luis Urias hit a grand slam in a six-run seventh inning that cut the deficit to 9-7, but Nationals relievers Hunter Harvey and Kyle Finnegan managed to keep the Red Sox off the scoreboard the rest of the way.