Reds break game open in 10th to slay Nationals
WASHINGTON -- Tucker Barnhart had an RBI single -- his third hit of the game -- to break a tie in the top of the 10th inning as the Cincinnati Reds scored five times in the extra frame to beat the Washington Nationals 9-4 on Saturday, ending a six-game winning streak for the National League East leaders.
The last-place Reds (30-52), who had had lost five in a row, loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the 10th as Eugenio Suarez and Brandon Phillips had singles. Speedy Billy Hamilton reached on a sacrifice bunt after first baseman Ryan Zimmerman bobbled the ball.
Barnhart then singled with the bases loaded to drive in a run and Phillips also scored when right fielder Bryce Harper misplayed the ball. The Reds made it 7-4 when Hamilton scored on a wild pitch by Matt Belisle. Jose Peraza had an RBI single to build the lead to 8-4 and Jay Bruce drove in a run on a groundout to make it 9-4.
Trailing 4-1, Washington's Danny Espinosa had a two-run homer in the eighth and Harper tied the game later in the frame with an RBI single off reliever Blake Wood.
Reds starter Dan Straily allowed two runs and two hits in seven innings. In his previous start, he allowed a career-high nine hits and career-worst seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
Washington right-hander Joe Ross gave up 10 hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings. It could have been worse but Washington center fielder Ben Revere robbed Bruce of extra bases with a leaping catch at the wall in center to end the sixth with two runners on base and reliever Felipe Rivero on the mound.
Zack Cozart also had three hits for the Reds and Adam Duvall and Phillips had two apiece.
The winning pitcher was Josh Smith (1-1) while Sammy Solis (1-3) was tagged with the loss. The first-place Nationals (49-33) had won nine extra-inning games in a row at home over the last two seasons.
NOTES: Reds 1B Joey Votto was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of a sore right shoulder. Adam Duvall got the start. ... Reds LHP John Lamb (1-4, 4.60 ERA) will face Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (10-0, 2.90) or RHP Lucas Giolito (0-0, 0.00) in the series finale on Sunday. Washington manager Dusty Baker said before Saturday's game that the Sunday starter "might be a game-time decision." ... The Nationals have five walk-off wins this year and Saturday's loss halted a streak of nine straight extra-inning home wins, the most recent coming Friday on a 14th-inning, RBI double by CF Ben Revere. ... Reds RHP Raisel Iglesias had allowed only one run in his last 7 1/3 innings after 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief on Friday against the Nationals. ... The Nationals entered Saturday with a six-game winning streak since a seven-game losing skid ended June 26 in Milwaukee. ... The Reds' bullpen had a 4.77 ERA in June, the worst in the majors.