Cincinnati Reds Get Six-Run Seventh, Sweep Nationals With 8-2 Victory

W: J.J. Hoover (4-0)

L: Aaron Barrett (3-1) 

Sunday brought another game in which the Cincinnati Reds used late inning scoring to beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 and complete the three-game sweep. It was a six-run seventh that propelled the Reds to victory and it started when Billy Hamilton bunted to the pitcher who threw out Marlon Byrd at second. That was the first mistake for the Nationals, as Hamilton proceeded to steal second and score on a Brandon Phillips single to left field. After that, it was a parade of hits from just about everyone in the lineup.

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Though the box score may not reflect it, Michael Lorenzen pitched very well in 6.1 innings. He threw a lot of pitches early, walking three in the first two innings. He settled down after the second and retired twelve in a row at one point until he allowed a walk to Bryce Harper to lead off the seventh. He struck out four and gave up only one hit, a single to the pitcher, but walked six batters, including three in the seventh that led to two earned runs for him. J.J. Hoover relieved Lorenzen with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, and gave up a two-run single to Michael Taylor before getting out of the inning, thanks to an unassisted double play from Joey Votto.

Todd Frazier continues to be as hot as a firecracker at the plate. In the fourth, he wrapped one around the left field foul pole for his 16^th home run of the season and his third in the last four games. Coming into Sunday’s game, he was hitting .304 with six home runs in 17 day games. That will only increase after going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. It’s safe to say the Toddfather loves to hit when the sun’s out.

Other Notes:

• The Nationals got their “retaliation” for Bryce Harper being hit by a pitch on Friday when they hit Votto in the back in the first inning. Both benches were warned and nothing further happened the rest of the game. Hopefully this silly incident can now be put to rest.
• The Reds put on a defensive clinic in the top of the second. First, Zack Cozart dove to his right to catch a line drive. Then, when Nationals pitcher Tanner Roark singled to right center for the first hit of the game and Taylor tried to score from first, Billy Hamilton, Brandon Phillips and Tucker Barnhart combined to throw out Taylor at home.
• Phillips broke a 0-for-18 slump with a home run in the fifth for his third of the season. He would finish the game 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Brennan Boesch got his first RBI of the season when he drove in Jay Bruce with a single in that huge offensive seventh inning.

Up Next: The Reds have an off day Monday and will travel to Philadelphia for a three-game series starting Tuesday at 7:05 ET. Johnny Cueto (3-4, 3.03 ERA) will make his return to the rotation and will be opposed by Sean O’Sullivan (1-4, 4.81 ERA).

Next: Reds overcome three-run deficit to beat Nationals