Nationals 8, Reds 1
Gio Gonzalez allowed one run on one hit in eight stellar innings as host Washington snapped a four-game slide in the series opener against Cincinnati.
Danny Espinosa and Denard Span drove in three runs apiece and Bryce Harper homered and doubled in support of Gonzalez (2-1), who let up only a solo homer to Joey Votto and two walks while striking out seven.
Bronson Arroyo (2-2) was tagged for six runs (five earned) in six innings for the Reds, who have scored two runs on two solo shots in their last two games.
Arroyo was coming off two straight outstanding starts, but dug a hole early by giving up a run-scoring double to Espinosa and an RBI base hit to Span in the second. Harper led off the third with his eighth homer and Espinosa added a two-run shot four batters later to make it 6-0.
That was more than enough for Gonzalez, who retired the first 11 batters before Votto's homer in the fourth and set down 13 of the last 15 he faced. Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in four career starts against Cincinnati.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The two teams have split four meetings this season with the winning team averaging nine runs. ... Washington is averaging 7.8 runs per win during a 4-9 stretch, but 1.3 in the losses. ... Span finished a 3-for-5 effort with a two-run triple in the eighth. He is hitting .347 at home.