Reds 6, Nationals 3
Jay Bruce had two hits and three RBIs as host Cincinnati won the rubber game of the series against Washington and ace Stephen Strasburg.
Johnny Cueto (1-0) overcome a shaky first two innings and earned the win by giving up three runs on seven hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked three as the Reds won for the fourth time in five games.
The Nationals got three hits and a three-run homer from Kurt Suzuki and an uncharacteristic outing from Strasburg (1-1), who was charged with six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. The former No. 1 overall pick struck out five and walked four in allowing a career-high 13 baserunners.
The Reds jumped on Strasburg for three runs in their first at-bat, with Bruce delivering the key blow with a two-run double. Washington tied it in their next at-bat when Suzuki lined a three-run blast into the seats in left.
Brandon Phillips' RBI single in the sixth inning chased Strasburg and Bruce greeted reliever Ryan Mattheus with an infield RBI single to make it 6-3. Cincinnati's bullpen finished it off with three scoreless innings, with Aroldis Chapman working around a one-out double in the ninth for his second save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The nine hits allowed tied a career high for Strasburg, who threw 114 pitches - 73 for strikes. ... Nationals 1B Adam LaRoche, who left Friday's game with back stiffness, sat out his second straight game. ... The Nationals are off Monday and will host the Chicago White Sox in a three-game set starting Tuesday. Cincinnati heads to St. Louis on Monday to kick off a six-game road trip.