With two losses to the Washington Nationals over the weekend, the Reds have now lost 6 straight games.
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On Saturday, Cincinnati lost 7-3. Nationals pitcher Joan Adon retired the first 17 batters he faced before the Reds got their first hit. By that point, it was the bottom of the 6th, and the Nationals led 6-0. 2 of their 6 runs at that point were scored on throwing errors. Cincinnati finished the game with 4 errors.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Reds scored three runs on a TJ Friedl 3-run blast to right center to make it a 6-3 game. That would be the closest Cincinnati would get as Washington sealed the game on Ildemaro Vargas RBI double in the top of the 8th to give the Nationals a 4-run lead.
Andrew Abbott struggled on the mound for the Reds, walking 5 while allowing 6 runs on 9 hits in 5 and 2/3 innings.
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On Sunday, Washington completed the series sweep, handing Cincinnati their 6th straight loss, 6-3.
4 1st inning runs by Washington doomed the Reds. The first two came on back-to-back solo home runs by CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas. The final run of the inning came on a Jake Alu RBI single.
A Joey Votto home run and a Stuart Fairchild RBI Single in the 2nd would cut the Nationals’ lead to 2. Cincinnati made it a 4-3 game on a TJ Friedl solo shot to right field in the bottom of the 3rd.
Those would be the final runs for the Reds, as Washington scored two more runs. The first came on Thomas’ double to left.
The final run of the game and Thomas’ third RBI came in the top of the 8th on a sacrifice fly, giving the Nationals a 6-3 advantage that they would hold onto for the rest of the game.
Lyon Richardson struggled in his big league pitching debut for the Reds, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits in 3 innings of work.
With the Cubs two wins against the Braves over the weekend, Cincinnati (59-55) and Chicago (58-54) are tied for second place in the NL Central. Both teams trail the 1st place Brewers (60-53) by 1.5 games.
The Reds kickoff a 3-game home series with the Miami Marlins (58-56) this evening. Coverage on 103.9 WRBI begins at 6:10.