The Reds had a chance to keep momentum rolling after sweeping the Athletics, but Saturday went sideways fast in an 8-2 loss to the Nationals. Cincinnati has now dropped two in a row and, with the defeat, lost just its second series since the All-Star break.
Chase Burns came in riding a remarkable run: 13 straight winning decisions, a stretch that would have given him the most for the Reds in 70 years. For a while, he looked like he might keep that streak intact. Burns worked around a walk through the first two innings and struck out three, but the third inning turned into the first real crack in the night.
Jose Tena opened the frame with a single, and after Jacob Young flew out, CJ Abrams doubled to put runners in scoring position. Abimelec Ortiz then singled in both runs, putting Cincinnati in a 2-0 hole.
Burns settled some after that, but the Nationals got him again in the sixth. He allowed a double, a single, another double and a walk that loaded the bases, and that was enough to end his outing with one out in the inning.
His final line: 5 1/3 innings, five earned runs, six hits, six strikeouts and three walks. He threw 64 of 96 pitches for strikes, tied his season high in runs allowed, and moved to 13-2 with a 2.61 ERA.
The bullpen didn’t hold the line. Sam Moll inherited the bases loaded with one out in the sixth and gave up a two-run double, though Elly De La Cruz threw out the third runner at the plate for the second out. Moll was charged with two hits in the inning.
Ron Marinaccio made his Reds debut in the seventh after being claimed off waivers from the Pirates, who designated him for assignment on August 3. He worked a perfect seventh, but the eighth got away from him. Marinaccio issued a walk and then allowed two runs on two hits.
At the plate, Cincinnati never found much rhythm against Alvarez, who was efficient from the start. The Reds managed only three hits against the left-hander: Dane Myers singled in the first, Noelvi Marte singled in the second, and Sal Stewart singled in the sixth.
Matt McLain drew the only walk against him, while Jose Trevino and Ke'Bryan Hayes were the only strikeouts Alvarez recorded. He was lifted in the sixth after just 73 pitches.
The offense finally showed a pulse once the Nationals went to the bullpen. After Stewart’s single, Washington brought in right-hander Max Kranick to face the right-handed Myers and Suarez.
Myers popped out, then Suarez crushed a two-run homer to tie the game in the sixth. It was the Reds’ only extra-base hit of the night.
Cincinnati is now 56-60 and sits 5 1/2 games behind the final Wild Card spot. Brady Singer will start Sunday as the Reds try to avoid their first series sweep since being swept by the Brewers in late June.
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