Nationals 6 Reds 3 (10)
The Reds finally got back to GABP Friday night, but could not get back to winning. Instead, the Nationals delivered a soul crushing 6-3 defeat in 10 innings to extend the Reds losing streak to four games. The Nationals scored the final six runs of the game.
Trailing 3-1 in the 8th, the Nationals tied the game on a two-out, two-strike, two-run, game-tying HR by Joey Memeses off Graham Ashcraft. They then won it with three runs off Alexis Diaz in the 10th.
The Brewers and Cubs both lost. The Reds remain 0.5 games back of Milwaukee.
Ashcraft: 8 IN, 6 H, 3 R, 106 pitches. He finished off the 8th after the homer. He took a shutout to the 6th before a Lane Thomas solo blast. He used just 35 pitches in the first three innings. That’s a 2.05 ERA over his last seven starts.
Pain: 3-3 bottom of the 9th, the Reds put runners on the corners with one out but couldn’t win it. Joey Votto walked. TJ Friedl pinch ran. Will Benson flew out. Friedl stole 2nd. Tyler Stephenson was intentionally walked. Stuart Fairchild struck out. Elly De La Cruz was intentionally walked. Nick Senzel popped out to 2B to end the inning.
Early O: Senzel, Matt McLain and De La Cruz each rocked solo homers inside the first three innings off LHP Patrick Corbin. The Senzel and McLain shots came as back-to-backers in the 1st inning,
Where did the O go? After scoring three times in three innings vs Corbin, who has been one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball over the last three years, the Reds didn’t score over the final seven innings. They were 0 for 10 w/RISP.
McHits: McLain collected three more hits to boost his average to .310. That’s his 3rd three hit game over his last 15 and 8th multi hit game in that span.
Nick at Nite: Senzel entered the game 2nd on the team vs LHP at .329.
Streaker: CES collected a hit for his 5th consecutive game.
What up? Jake Fraley did not appear off the bench in an obvious PH spot in the 9th. After the game, Bell indicated he was unavailable.
No bricks, no ivy, no problem: CF Stuart Fairchild raced to the wall in straightaway centerfield to haul in a rocket. He also singled.
Bullpen:
Alexis Diaz covered the 9th and went back out for the 10th, pitching for the first time since Monday. He surrendered an RBI double and two run homer. 1.2 IN, 3 R.
How the Reds scored:
1st: Senzel HR, 1-0 Reds
1st: McLain HR, 2-0 Reds
3rd: De La Cruz, 3-0 Reds (his first RH HR)