Scott Rolen can't come back soon enough. Reds lose, 7-1.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Livan Hernandez.  The slowest pitcher alive threw a complete game, allowing only one run, striking out five, and walking none.  Honorable mentions go to Willie Harris, Nyjer Morgan, Carlos Fisher, and Orlando Cabrera.

Key Plays

• We should expect Edinson Volquez to have some rough starts in his comeback, and today was one of them.  He started off the game by walking the slumping Nyjer Morgan, who then stole second.  Morgan took third on Roger Bernadina's flyout, although replays suggested he left the bag early and was thrown out by Drew Stubbs.  Still, the call was safe.  And he was safe at home when Ryan Zimmerman grounded out.  Nationals lead, 1-0.
• Volquez's wildness was worse in the second.  He walked Willie Harris, Adam Kennedy, and Wil Nieves to load the bases with no outs, and Livan Hernandez hit a single to drive in a run.  Only one of those four batters was hitting over .200, and that man (Kennedy) was only batting .250.  Nyjer Morgan then grounded into a force out, but it was enough to score Kennedy.  Nationals lead, 3-0.
• After being beaten by the smgma that is the Nationals' bottom of the order, the Reds duly got clobbered by the Nats' quality players.  Zimmerman singled to lead off the third, and Adam Dunn hit a home run.  The Reds had done a good job of keeping Dunn in check in this series, but he got his revenge in a big way this inning.  After striking out Cristian Guzman, Willie Harris tripled off of Volquez and scored on Kennedy's single.  Newly recalled Carlos Fisher came in and got a double play to end the inning, but it was too late.  Nationals lead, 6-0.
• The Reds feebly attempted a comeback in the fourth inning.  Orlando Cabrera led off with a single and went first to third (how we do!) on Jay Bruce's single.  Jonny Gomes lined out to the shortstop, Ramon Hernandez scored Cabrera by grounding out, and Drew Stubbs struck out.  Nationals lead, 6-1.
• Roger Bernadina homered off of Bill Bray in the seventh inning.  Nationals win, 7-1.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Edinson Volquez only got seven outs, but four of those were from strikeouts.
• Livan Hernandez had not won a game since June 21.
• The Nationals hadn't won back to back road games since May 12-13.
• Adam Dunn is batting .182 with two home runs in his career against the Reds.