Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Eugenio Suarez Steals Show In DC
By Ricky Keeler
Jul 6, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez (7) hits a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Cincinnati Reds won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Suarez Shines Last Night In The Nation’s Capital
When you talk about the Reds’ offense, the name Eugenio Suarez is not the first handful of names that comes to mind. Now, Cincinnati’s offense did get ten hits against Nats pitching last night, which included eight of the nine starters. However, the player with the most hits on the team last night was 23-year-old shortstop Eugenio Suarez.
Suarez is the shortstop because of Zack Cosart being out due to torn ligaments in his knee. His night started with an infield single in the second inning, However, he was picked off by Wilson Ramos for the second out of the inning. Fortunately, that did not cost the team a run as DeSclafani was able to get the hit that tied the game.
Suarez’s night would continue when he reached on an error by Ian Desmond in the fourth inning, his 19th of the season. Two innings later, he drove in the Reds’ second run with a base hit to left field that scored Marlon Byrd. By the way, that was a good challenge by Matt Williams to have the umpires review Byrd’s leadoff double that the umps changed to a home run before looking at the replay. But, it did not matter because the Reds got the run away.
Finally, in the eighth, Suarez was able to take advantage of a hanging breaking ball by Janssen and hit a solo home run to left to give Cincinnati the lead. Suarez went 3-for-4 in the win and is hitting .329 this season in 21 games with three home runs and 13 RBI’s.
In the end, Suarez bailed himself out, but it goes to show you that the Reds’ lineup has more options than Joey Votto, Todd Frazier, Jay Bruce, and Brandon Phillips. Cincinnati’s offense has hit 93 home runs, which is second in the National League, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers (106).