Jul 27, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Doug Fister(58) throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
The Nationals earned yet another series victory Sunday afternoon as Washington took the rubber game of the three game series against the Reds, 4-2.
Doug Fister got the start for the Nationals and he turned in yet another dominant performance en route to his 10th win of the season. The right-hander allowed just three hits while striking out five over seven scoreless innings of work. Today’s performance was just the latest gem from Fister, who is 8-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his last 10 starts.
Hits were hard to come by for the Nationals but the offense still managed to provide Fister with more than enough run support.
The Nationals scored their first run in the top of the fifth inning when Jayson Werth worked an 0-2 count into a bases-loaded walk from Reds starter Mat Latos, giving Washington a 1-0 lead. The Nationals made it a 3-0 lead later in the inning on a two-run single by Adam LaRoche.
Although the Nationals only got four hits, they managed to get on base consistently thanks to six walks from the Reds’ pitching staff, four of which were against Denard Span.
It remained a three-run game until the ninth inning, when Anthony Rendon gave the Nationals a 4-0 lead with an RBI single against Cincinnati reliever Carlos Contreras.
Despite Washington’s 4-0 lead, the Reds made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth. After the Reds hit two consecutive singles against Aaron Barrett, Rafael Soriano allowed a two-run double to Devin Mesoraco, cutting the Nationals’ lead in half and putting the tying run at the plate. Fortunately for the Nationals, Soriano retired the next three batters, sealing a 4-2 win for the Nationals and earning him his 200th career save.
With Sunday’s victory, the Nationals are now 57-45 and lead the Braves by two games in the National League East.