Four runs in the sixth inning lift the Washington Nationals to a series win over the Cincinnati Reds, 8-2.
José Tena sparked the Nationals offense in the third inning after he got the Nationals their first hit of the night after he singled to center. Jacob Young couldn’t replicate another base hit as he recorded the first out of the inning. With CJ Abrams at the top of the order, he looked to bring in a run. Abrams couldn’t secure a run but instead he doubled to right.
It would be Abimelec Ortiz who got the Nationals on the board first. Ortiz controlled the four-seam fastball just enough to single it left. Tena confidently secured home and Abrams used his speed to also secure another Nationals run.
The Nationals headed into the fourth inning where they looked to duplicate more runs and maintain the lead at home.
After a silent few more innings, the action picked back up in the sixth inning but it wasn’t in the Nationals favor to start.
After 73 pitches, Alvarez was relieved by Max Kranick. With one out recorded by Alvarez, Kranick looked to put two more outs on the board for the Reds. However, this was not the case.
Just six pitches in, Kranick’s 94 mph four-seam fastball put the Reds back in the game after Eugenio Suárez drilled the ball 415 feet to left center for a two run home run that allowed the game to get tied up 2-2 in the sixth inning.
In his ninth start of the season, Andrew Alvarez came into the game with 64 innings under his belt, and recorded a 3.94 ERA, 31 walks, and 63 strikeouts. He went on to pitch 5.1 innings, where he only gave up three hits and one walk, and recorded two strikeouts.
The Nationals aimed to get back in the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Dylan Crews doubled to left. Then it was Daylen Lile who contributed to another Nationals run after he singled to left as Crews slid into home.
Keibert Ruiz kept the momentum going when he doubled to center. With Lile now on third and Ruiz on second, the Nationals had no outs.
Jorbit Vivas burned two challenges for the Nationals after he challenged strike calls. Vivas returned to the dugout after his second challenge was confirmed and recorded the innings first out.
Nasim Nuñez earned a walk and loaded the bases. Andrés Chaparro then pinch hit for Tena and it paid off not just in the at bat, but the rest of the way. Chaparro doubled to left as both Lile and Ruiz scored. Unfortunately, Nuñez was thrown out at home but the Nationals were now up 5-2 and still had damage to do.
Chaparro advanced to third off a wild pitch. Then, Young singled to left as Chaparro tacked on another run for the Nationals in the sixth.
As the eighth inning rolled around, the Nationals looked to add some insurance to their 6-2 lead. Ruiz lined out to shortstop to start the inning but Vivas was able to earn a walk to get a runner on base. Nuñez struck out swinging and recorded the second out but the inning wasn’t over just yet for the Nationals.
Vivas snuck in and stole second base. Chaparro was back at it as he contributed towards another Nationals run when he singled to right that allowed for Vivas to score. Now 7-2, the Nationals kept extending the inning the best they could despite the two outs. Abrams then singled to center with enough room for Chaparro to score the last run of the game.
The Nationals look to close the three-game series out with a clean sweep tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. before turning to take on the Cubs at home on Tuesday.
