Reds top Nats to spoil Baker's return to Cincinnati
CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds hit three home runs and spoiled Dusty Baker's return to Great American Ball Park with a 7-2 victory Friday night against the NL East-leading Washington Nationals. It was the third consecutive win for the Reds, and their fourth in the last five outings, while Washington saw its four-game winning streak come to an end.
Eugenio Suarez, Zack Cozart and Adam Duvall all hit home runs to back up the starting pitching of Brandon Finnegan (2-4), who allowed just one runner past second base in his 6 1/3 innings on the mound. Finnegan was attempting to become the third Reds pitcher in a row to complete at least seven innings, something the staff has not done all season, but gave up a solo home run to Jayson Werth and a single to Anthony Rendon with one out in the seventh inning to end his evening.
Baker was the Reds manager from 2008-13, and led the Reds to three postseason berths. Washington starter Gio Gonzalez (3-4) suffered his third consecutive loss as he gave up five runs on nine hits over six innings.
Suarez went 3-for-4, drove in two runs and scored twice as he continued a resurgence following a hitless streak of 26 at-bats. Suarez is now 9-for-19 in his last five games with four home runs and seven RBIs.
The Reds batted around while scoring four runs in the second inning off Gonzalez as the first four batters of the frame reached base. Adam Duvall led off the inning with his 14th double of the season. Eugenio Suarez followed with a single up the middle that scored Duvall for a 1-0 lead. The Reds loaded the bases on a bloop single to center field by Billy Hamilton and an infield single by Ramon Cabrera.
Gonzalez struck out Finnegan before Cozart delivered a single to right field to score Suarez and keep the bases loaded. Gonzalez struck out Joey Votto swinging on a full count before Phillips delivered a two-run single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.
Suarez made it 5-0 with a line-drive home run to left field -- his 13th of the season -- with one out in the third inning.
Finnegan faced the minimum through three innings despite giving up a single and a walk.
Trea Turner, who singled in the first inning, walked in the fourth with one out and appeared to safely reach third base on a single by Bryce Harper but Reds manager Bryan Price challenged the call. The umpires overturned the call on the field Jeff Nelson after replay review showed that Turner popped off the bag while Suarez maintained his tag.
Finnegan ended the inning by getting Daniel Murphy to ground out to Phillips at second base.
NOTES: Bryce Harper returned to the Washington lineup after missing the last two games with a bruised right knee. ... The Nationals placed 1B Ryan Zimmerman on the paternity list. He was replaced by Trea Turner, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, where he led the International League in runs and stolen bases. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto is hitting .310 (9-for-29) with three home runs, three doubles and seven RBIs in his last seven games. ... Reds C Ramon Cabrera started for the second time in three games. Regular catcher Tucker Barnhart was given the night off after catching Thursday in Colorado and the Reds didn't return home until 4:45 a.m.