Please don't confront me with my failures. I had not forgotten them. Reds lose, 3-1.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Ryan Hanigan.  The DC native was feeling his oats in the game today, going a perfect 4-4 at the plate, including a double.  He also threw out Ian Desmond trying to steal.  A really good game from our backstop.  Honorable mentions go to Brandon Phillips, who did his best to provide a spark from the leadoff spot with three hits, and Joey Votto (the only player besides Hanigan and Phillips to get a hit).

Key Plays

• Bronson Arroyo and Jordan Zimmermann traded scoreless innings for awhile.  Then Arroyo got smacked around by Jesus like he was some kind of moneylender.  Jesus Flores homered in the fifth inning.  Nationals lead, 1-0.
• With two outs in the sixth inning, Arroyo walked Mike Morse.  Then Jayson Werth singled, and so did Danny Espinosa to load the bases.  Up stepped Jonny Gomes, and he came through with a two run single like it was May of last year.  Nationals lead, 3-0.
• The Reds offense still wasn't good, but the Nats were able to gift them a run in the seventh.  Pinch hitter Fred Lewis faced relief pitcher Henry Rodriguez, and reached on a fielding error by Ian Desmond.  Rodriguez then threw a wild pitch, and Lewis went to second.  Then Jesus Flores passed a ball, and Lewis went to third.  Brandon Phillips grounded out to first, and Lewis scored.  Nationals win, 3-1.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Paul Janish and Dave Sappelt both left five runners on base.  Janish grounded into a double play.  The Reds as a team were 0-12 with runners in scoring position over the last two games.  Blergh.
• Jay Bruce won the Player of the Week, but then went 2-12 with one run scored over these three games.  The day off beforehand did him no favors.
• It had been over two years since Jesus Flores homered last.