The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Sometimes all you can do is tip your cap to the other team.
When you think of the greatest hitters in baseball history, who comes to mind? It's probably names like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds. However, over the course of this four game series, Danny Espinosa did everything that he possibly could to be added to that list.
Today Espinosa, hitting from the eight spot, went 4-5 with a grand slam, solo shot, and 6 RBI. Espinosa entered the series against Cincinnati with 34 RBI. When things were all wrapped up on Sunday he had 49. Over the past four days Espinosa accumulated 5 home runs and 15 RBI.
The four game hot streak rose Espinosa's average to .241.
Honorable mentions are due: Stephen Strasburg threw 6.2 no-hit innings; Wilson Ramos hit a solo home run and a double; Bryce Harper added a solo shot; so did Anthony Rendon. Oh you wanted a Reds player? Joey Votto drew two walks; Jose Peraza had an RBI single; Ramon Cabrera broke up the no-hitter in the eighth.
Key Plays
- Washington scored the first run of the game in the second inning. Wilson Ramos hit a solo shot off of John Lamb.
- The fourth inning couldn't have gone worse for Lamb. He walked the first three hitters of the inning (Ramos, Zimmerman, and Rendon). The next batter, Danny Espinosa, hit his second grand slam of the series.
- The Nationals tacked on three more runs in the fifth. Bryce Harper led off the inning with a solo home run. Daniel Murphy singled, and then scored on a Wilson Ramos double. With one out, Anthony Rendon singled to give Washington runners on first and third. The Reds turned the ball over to Keyvius Sampson, and he promptly gave up an RBI single to Danny Espinosa.
- Guess what, the Nationals scored in the sixth too. Sampson struck out Michal Taylor to start the inning. However, he walked Jayson Werth, and then hit Bryce Harper with a pitch. Daniel Murphy singled to drive in Werth. Those of you who chose to spend today at a cookout with friends chose wisely. Me? Oh I'm just sitting in my basement with a 2-liter of Sprite watching Reds baseball.
- Seventh inning...same story. With Sampson still on the mound Anthony Rendon hit his eighth home run of the season. That would make it 10-0 Nationals. Danny Espinosa was up next. He hit another home run. I'm dead inside.
- Let it be written. This third day of July in the year of our Lord, two thousand and sixteen...Ramon Cabrera got a single ending the no-hit bid. Zack Cozart also singled off of Matt Belisle. Jose Peraza drove home Cabrera on a single in to center.
- Jumbo Diaz came in to pitch the eighth, and he gave up a home run to the first hitter he faced (Stephen Drew). For those of you counting at home, that's 12-1 Nationals.
Tony Graphanino
Source: FanGraphs
Other Notes
- During the game the team announced that Juan Duran cleared outright waivers. He has moved to AA Pensacola.
- Prior to the game, Fox Sports Ohio dropped this encouraging fun fact. "Duvall is only the 3rd Reds batter with at least 22 HR & 58 RBI prior to the ASG (since '53). Joining Gus Bell in 1953 & Johnny Bench in 1970."
- It was Herbert Hoover bobble head day in Washington.
- The Reds take the field tomorrow at 2:20 ET in Chicago. The game will feature Cody Reed vs. Kyle Hendricks.
- Tunes.