Nats drop series finale to Reds

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Through three consecutive wins against the Reds it seemed as if the Nationals had everything going right for them. Their pitching was airtight and their offense suddenly woke up from its slumber from the series before. They were also getting fortunate bounces and calls, something that frustrated them during a previous losing streak.

But the Nats were in the middle of a four-game series against Cincinnati, not three, and had one more game to go on Sunday. And after seeing the Nats’ lineup three times, the Reds made the most of their opportunities and rode a hot pitcher to a 5-2 win over Washington before 36,457 at Nationals Park.

“When you play three good games like that, that’s why four game series are hard,” Ian Desmond said. “It’s hard to go out there and they got a pretty good scouting report on us after three offensive games.”

Nationals starter Ross Detwiler was able to prevent the Reds from making the game a blowout, allowing just one extra base hit through five innings of work despite giving up 11 total hits. The Reds made plenty of contact, but ten of them were singles and four didn’t even leave the infield.

Instant Analysis: Reds 5, Nats 2

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Game in a nutshell: For all the breaks and good fortune the Nats were receiving over the previous three days, everything came up Cincinnati and early on Sunday. Ten of their 11 hits off starter Ross Detwiler were singles as the Reds were just hitting balls where Nats defenders weren’t. On the mound, however, nothing was lucky about Tony Cingrani’s performance. The young lefty struck out 11 Nats batters, the most for a Reds rookie since Johnny Cueto did so in 2008. He was spectacular and probably benefitted from facing the Nats for the first time. The Nats finally got to the Reds’ bullpen for two runs late, but it wasn’t enough. Blown chances were the story of this game.

Hitting lowlight: It’s hard to single out one guy in the Nats order when everyone had so much trouble against Cingrani. But because of his recent stretch, Adam LaRoche gets the honor after continuing his hitless streak to 26 at-bats. LaRoche went 0-for-4 on Sunday with three strikeouts and four men left on base as his second K came with two outs and the bases loaded.

Game 24: Nats vs. Reds

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The Nats are coming off back-to-back one-hitters against the third highest scoring offense in the majors. Today they send Dan Haren (1-3, 7.36 ERA) to the hill who made his Nationals debut against the very same Reds earlier this season, allowing six earned runs in four innings out in Cincinnati.

Back in Washington's lineup is Anthony Rendon who will play third base and bat seventh. Danny Espinosa is hitting second as Steve Lombardozzi gets a rest. Everything else is pretty much as expected.

The Reds will pitch Mike Leake (1-0, 3.81 ERA), a former 8th overall pick. Leake has faced the Nationals seven different times in his young career, allowing 23 earned runs in 39 1/3 innings (a 5.26 ERA. After seeing their offense take a step back last night, maybe the Nats can get things going again against a guy they have been able to bat around in the past.

Updates to come...

CINCINNATI REDS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: FOX, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM)
Weather: Sunny, 72 degrees, Wind 6 mph in from LF

NATIONALS (12-11)
CF Denard Span
2B Danny Espinosa
LF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth

Everything comes up Nats in win vs. Reds

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Losers of four straight with a searching offense and erratic pitching, the Nationals’ 8-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night was perhaps the perfect medicine for a team in an unexpected position as they near the end of the season’s first month. Their bats woke up, they got the breaks their opponents had been getting, and their starting pitcher was buzzing right from the first pitch. Finally, things were going the Nationals way.

Whether it was offense, pitching, or defense in the field: everything seemed to work out for the home team.

“That was a big day,” manager Davey Johnson said. “A lot of guys were saying to me, ‘It’s been a long time since we were shaking hands.’ I said no doubt about that.”

“It was just a good all-around game. That’s more like who we are: Good pitching, timely hitting.”