Nats avoid sweep as 9 Reds runs weren't enough. WAS 10 CIN 9

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

The Nationals brought their big bats today, scoring runs in bunches off of both Jon Moscot and the Reds bullpen.  Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos were particularly effective and had the Nats looking every inch the World Series contenders that they believe themselves to be.

Offensively, though, the Reds continued their recent trend of hitting well.  Jay Bruce gets player of the game honors today for his three run home run in the seventh inning, plus a walk and run scored in the second inning.  He also made an outstanding play to throw out Bryce Harper at third base that kept one of the Nationals' big innings from being any bigger.  Honorable mentions to Tyler Holt, who had three hits and a walk, and Ivan De Jesus Jr for his big three run double early in the game.

Key Plays

• After a quiet first inning, Jay Bruce led off the bottom of the second by drawing a walk. Adam Duvall and Eugenio Suarez followed up with back to back singles to load the bases with no outs. Ivan De Jesus Jr then doubled off the left field wall to score three runs, one of which scored on a fielding error by Nationals left fielder Ben Revere. Reds up 3-0.

• Still in the second inning, Tucker Barnhart singled to advance De Jesus to third, and then Jon Moscot bunted Barnhart to second base. Both runs scored on a bloop single from Tyler Holt. Reds up 5-0.

• In the top of the fourth inning, Bryce Harper singled for the first Nationals hit of the day. Unfortunately, Daniel Murphy followed that up with the second Nationals hit of the day, which was a 405 foot bomb to right field. Wilson Ramos then followed up with a homer of his own that Bruce almost managed to haul in. Reds up 5-3.

• The inning would continue as Clint Robinson doubled and the Reds chose to intentionally walk Danny Espinosa. That brought up Stephen Drew as a pinch hitter, and he singled to score Robinson, which ended Moscot’s outing.

• However, things didn’t get much better, as Moscot’s replacement Daniel Murphy promptly gave up a single to score Espinosa and tie the game. 5-5 in the middle of the fourth.

• An inning later, the Nationals loaded the bases on singles by Harper, Murphy and Ramos. Anthony Rendon then grounded to third, but an error on Barnhart allowed two runs to score. Ramos then scored on a sacrifice fly. 8-5 Nationals.

• In the sixth, with JC Ramirez pitching, singles by Revere, Harper, Murphy and Ramos led to two more runs, although a nice throw from Bruce nailed Harper trying to go first to third, so it could have been worse. 10-5 Nationals.

• The Reds finally answered back in the bottom of the seventh.  Joey Votto walked and Brandon Phillips singled, then Bruce launched a three run home run, his 13th home run of the season.  10-8 Nationals.

• In the bottom of the ninth, Holt led off with a single, and Votto walked yet again to put the tying runs on base with no out against Jonathan Papelbon.  Phillips doubled down the left field line to score Holt, and an intentional walk to Bruce brought Duvall to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out.  Duvall popped up and Zack Cozart struck out on three pitches on a pinch hit assignment.  The game ended on a long fly ball from De Jesus, but not long enough.  Game over, Nationals 10 Reds 9.

Fangraph

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2016-06-05&team=Reds&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2016-06-05&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2016">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

• Given the imminent return of at least one Reds starting pitcher, you have to wonder if that’s the last we see of Moscot as a starter for a while.

• JC Ramirez took a come-backer off his leg in the eighth inning and was taken out of the game.  The Reds reported that he has a bruised right quad.

• The Reds used six pitchers on the afternoon today.  Three managed to not allow any runs.

• The Reds have an off day tomorrow, but they will be back in action on Tuesday evening at home against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Some guy named Mike Leake is the scheduled starter for the Cardinals.

• Tunes!