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Nationals: Turner Impresses, Gonzalez Falters In Loss To Reds

By Chris Lacey

Jun 3, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner hits a single against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 3, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner hits a single against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite a great performance by Trea Turner, the Washington Nationals lost the series opener to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, 7-2. 

The Washington Nationals got a sub-par outing from Gio Gonzalez and it led to them losing by a 7-2 score against the Reds.

The Cincinnati Reds broke through in a monstrous way during the second inning against Gonzalez as they scored four runs. Eugenio Suarez and Zack Cozart had a pair of RBI singles. Then, Brandon Phillips pushed the lead to 4-0 with a two-out, two-run single.

One inning later, the Reds made the score 5-0 courtesy of a solo home run to left field by Suarez. This was the 13th homer of the season for him.

Gonzalez was knocked around in this outing. He surrendered five runs on nine hits across six innings. He yielded one home run and fanned eight batters on 100 pitches (62 strikes) in the loss. While he did struggle in the second inning, the left-hander settled down as he held the Reds scoreless in the final three innings of his outing.

The Washington Nationals got on the board in the seventh inning as Jayson Werth hit a solo home run to right field against Brandon Finnegan. This cut the deficit to 5-1, and it was the ninth homer of the year for him.

Finnegan had better results, as indicated by him allowing one run in 6.1 innings. He gave up five hits, walked three batters and struck out two on 110 pitches (68 strikes) in the win. The lone mistake made by the southpaw was the home run to Werth.

The lone bright spot for the Nationals in this game was the performance at the plate by shortstop prospect Trea Turner, who got the start at second base tonight. Turner had three hits, including a double and he drew a walk. If the young infielder can produce more games like this, it will provide a huge boost to the lineup.

Yusmeiro Petit entered in the bottom of the seventh but didn’t have much success. He gave up a solo home run to Cozart, and this gave the Reds a 6-1 lead. It was the eighth home run of the season for Cozart.

The Reds brought in reliever Blake Wood with one out in the top of the seventh and a runner on first, but Wood retired Danny Espinosa and Clint Robinson by striking both of them out to end the inning.

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The Nats did add a run in the top of the eighth when Ben Revere drove in Wilson Ramos with a RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 6-2. However, the Reds would get the run back in the bottom of the eighth when Adam Duvall hit his 15th home run of the season. J.C Ramirez tossed a scoreless ninth, as he struck out the side to secure the victory for the Reds.

Next: District Daily: Why Ramos Has Done So Well In 2016

Next game: Stephen Strasburg (9-0, 2.69 ERA) will look to remain undefeated as he gets the starts for the Washington Nationals (33-22). The Reds (20-35) will have Dan Straily (3-2, 3.43 ERA) on the mound for them. You can watch the game at 4:10 p.m. ET on MASN.

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