WASHINGTON (AP) — Two games into their series with the NL East-leading Washington Nationals, the Cincinnati Reds have been blown out and edged in 14 innings.
It’s been a sampling of the Reds’ entire season, really, and when it comes right down to it, one loss hurts just as much as the other.
The Reds wasted another solid start by right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and fell to the Nationals 3-2 in 14 innings Friday night.
Cincinnati outhit Washington, but in the end a two-out RBI double by Ben Revere in the 14th inning proved to be the difference.
DeSclafani gave up two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight. His solid outing came one night after the Reds were hammered in a 13-4 defeat.
“They beat us up pretty good, so it’s typical after a game like that you have a well-pitched game and a close one,” Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. “Unfortunately, it took 14 innings to be decided. It puts us in a situation to be a little thin (in the bullpen).”
The last-place Reds have lost five straight and nine of 10.
“It’s definitely tough, obviously, and the way the season has gone,” DeSclafani said. “The whole team fought hard and the bullpen pitched great. You get into those extra innings and it seems like nobody can scratch a run across the board.”
DeSclafani left after Washington put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh and the scored tied at 2. Raisel Iglesias entered and retired Jayson Werth on a hard-hit grounder.
DeSclafani, who began the season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, is 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA in five starts since his return on June 10.
The Reds can’t seem to find the right mix of hitting and pitching in a nine-inning game.
“That’s why we have a record like this,” Price said. “We could use a win and a well-played game.”
Revere’s liner off the wall in right-center against Ross Ohlendorf (5-6) scored Danny Espinosa, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
That ended a game that lasted 4 hours, 30 minutes.
Yusmeiro Petit (3-1), the sixth Washington pitcher, worked two innings for the win.
Nationals starter Tanner Roark allowed two runs and eight hits over seven innings. He struck out four and walked two.
Two singles and a sacrifice fly by Daniel Murphy put Washington up 1-0 in the first and ended DeSclafani’s scoreless streak at 13 innings.
Tucker Barnhart tied it for the Reds with an RBI single in the second.
Cincinnati went up 2-1 in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Adam Duvall, but a two-out double by Murphy tied it in the bottom half.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (elbow surgery) is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. He pitched an inning on Monday. … RHP Caleb Cotham (shoulder) began his rehab stint by facing four batters on Thursday with Double-A Pensacola. He gave up two hits, a walk and three runs.
Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (back, ribs) could be close to coming off the DL. Manager Dusty Baker said Strasburg threw on the side on Thursday and “he told me he felt good. How do you keep a guy on the shelf if he tells you he feels good?” Baker added: “Each time he doesn’t go out there, he’s getting farther and farther behind on his endurance and on his sharpness.”
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Dan Straily (4-5, 4.38 ERA) faces Washington for the second time this season Saturday night. He allowed two hits in seven innings on June 4 but received no decision.
Nationals: RHP Joe Ross (7-4, 3.30) faces the Reds for the first time. Ross is 4-0 in seven starts since May 21.
The post Reds stick with Nationals until 14th inning in 3-2 defeat appeared first on WTOP.
