Cincinnati Reds Overcome Three-Run Deficit to Steal Win From Nationals

90. 8. 61. . 5

In most games this season, a three-run deficit has been insurmountable for the Cincinnati Reds. Heck, even one-run games have seemed insurmountable at times. That was not the case on Saturday, as the Reds dug themselves out of a 5-2 hole to steal a victory from the Washington Nationals, 8-5.

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After the Nationals took a three-run lead in the sixth, the Reds answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a one-run game. Following a walk to Joey Votto and a ground-rule double by Todd Frazier—his first of two doubles on the day—Jay Bruce made it a 5-3 game on a groundout. Brayan Pena followed that with an RBI single to bring the game within one.

The comeback was completed with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded against Casey Janssen, it was Zack Cozart that came up with the go-ahead hit, lining a 1-2 pitch over center fielder Denard Span‘s head for a two-run double. After a questionable intentional walk to pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker, the Reds added a couple of insurance runs on a two-run single by Billy Hamilton to make it 8-5.

The game was an entertaining, back-and-forth affair all the way through. Raisel Iglesias got the start for the Reds and after a rough, three-inning outing in his last start, he got off to another shaky start. With two outs in the first inning, he gave up a double to Yunel Escobar and an RBI single to Ryan Zimmerman to put the Reds in an early hole.

For the second time in as many games, Votto got the scoring started for the Reds with a home run. His two-run shot in the third put the Reds in front, 2-1.

Iglesias was impressive for the most part in his fourth career start, but the wheels fell off for him in the sixth as he gave up a go-ahead, three-run home run to Michael Taylor. His day was finished after he hit Nationals’ pitcher Gio Gonzalez for the second time on the day. Iglesias was charged with five runs on nine hits with no walks and a career-high eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings and 105 pitches.

The rookie was bailed out by the bullpen, as Ryan Mattheus and J.J. Hoover allowed just one baserunner between them in 2.1 innings to get to Aroldis Chapman in the ninth. Chapman worked around a pair of walks to pick up his ninth save of the season and seal the Reds’ come-from-behind victory.

Other Notes:

The Reds had 11 hits on the day, including multi-hit games from Votto (2-for-3), Frazier (3-for-4), Pena (2-for-4) and Hamilton (2-for-4).
Brandon Phillips was back in the lineup after being held out the previous three games. He went 0-for-5.
After getting hit by a Tony Cingrani fastball in the back yesterday, Bryce Harper missed today’s game for the Nationals. I was a bit surprised to not see any retaliation from the Nationals in today’s game.
Nationals shortstop Yunel Escobar was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes.

Up Next: The Reds conclude their series with the Nationals on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. ET. Michael Lorenzen will get the ball for the Reds and be opposed by Tanner Roark.

Next: Reds take down Nationals in series opener, 5-2

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