Reds’ starter Johnny Cueto throws a fastball by Roger Bernadina for a swinging K to start tonight’s game. Cristian Guzman chases a two-strike curve into the dirt. Elijah Dukes pops the first pitch out to right and Cueto’s got a 1-2-3 first....Jerry Hairston, Jr. flies out to the returning Austin Kearns in right, Jeff Keppinger grounds to short, and John  “Cool Hand” Lannan gets a weak grounder from Ken Griffey, Jr. to end his own scoreless inning. 

Low change from Johnny Cueto gets DY for a swinging K. Austin Kearns grounds out to third. Ronnie Belliard grounds to short. Cueto’s through two...Chopped grounder to short, and Guzman throws out former Montreal Expos' Draft Pick Brandon Phillips. Edwin Encarnacion sends one right to Guzman, who throws to first. Willie Harris knocks down Joey Votto’s sharp pond-skipper, and throws to first to end the second. 

Jesus Flores pops the first pitch of the third up to Votto in foul territory. Willie Harris takes three pitches before popping out, and Johhny Cueto strikes out the opposing pitcher to retire the Nationals’ entire order in order the first time through...Ronnie Belliard knocks down a sharp grounder from Jay Bruce and throws to first in time. Cincy catcher David Ross walks to give the Reds their first baserunner of the day. Johnny Cueto gets the sac bunt down, and Lannan just has to get Jerry Hairston, Jr. to finish the third...Hairston lines to center, Bernandina’s throw is up the third base line, Ross scores. 1-0 Reds after three. 

Roger Bernandina tops off a two-strike pitch, grounding out to second to start the fourth. The Guzzz grounds up the middle and beats out an across the body throw from Brandon Phillips for Washington’s first hit off Cueto. Elijah Dukes splits the gap in left center and the ball rolls to the wall, allowing Guzman to score and Dukes to take second standing. 1-1 ballgame. Cueto balks Dukes over to third, and walks DY in front of Austin Kearns...AK grounds through short. Duke scores. 2-1 Nationals...In the dramatic shift, Willie Harris is positioned in shallow right, right where Ken Griffey, Jr. grounds out to start the Reds’ fourth. Brandon Phillips lines a single just inside the third base bag, but it takes a Nationals’ bounce off the G.A.B.P's stands and holds Phillips at first. Edwin Encarnacion grounds to Harris, who tosses to Guzman at second, over to DY, inning-ending DP. 2-1 DC. 

Willie Harris grounds through second to start the fifth. John Lannan fouls off a two-strike bunt attempt, failing to move Harris up. Roger Bernadina flies out to center, and Harris decides to advance himself, tagging and taking second, only to have Guzman pop out to end the top of the frame...Lannan gets a pop-up from Joey Votto. Jay Bruce walks and moves to second on a wlid pitch from Lannan that gets by Flores. David Ross sends Austin Kearns sprinting back, and he reaches up and robs Ross of an extra base hit, and John Lannan drops a cruel curve on Cueto for a swinging K to end the fifth. 

Cueto throws a fastball over the catcher, batter and Ump against Elijah Dukes, and Dukes doesn’t like it, Cueto's 2-2 pitch ends up 10 rows back in the left field bleachers. DUKES!! GOES DEEP AGAIN!!! 3-1 DC. DY doubles off the wall in left center. AK flies out to Hairston in center. Ronnie Belliard pops out to right. Jesus Flores pops out to right...Lannan walks leadoff batter Jerry Hairston, Jr. to start the Reds’ sixth. Jeff Keppinger grounds up the middle, and Willie Harris gets to it and somehow throws to first in time to get one out. Ken Griffey, Jr? Lannan dips a low bender under Griffey’s bat for a swinging K. Brandon Phillips lines to center...and it drops in front of a diving Bernadina. Hairston scores. 3-2 DC. Edwin Encarancion droops a single over second and into the short center grass. Phillips takes third. Joey Votto lines to center. Phillips scores. Tied at 3-3. Lannan strikes out Jay Bruce. 3-3 after six. 

Willie Harris lines a single under Edwin Encarnacion to start the top of the seventh. Felipe Lopez pinch hits for Lannan, and goes down swinging on a hit and run attempt, so Harris is dead to rights at second. Strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out. Cueto gets Bernadina swinging. Stand up and stretch...Jesus “Everyday” Colome gets a ground ball out from David Ross, but the second grounder from pinch hitter Corey Patterson is thrown by DY at first by Willie Harris, allowing Patterson to take second. Hairston lines to center, Patterson comes around third...and trips, just falls, and has to stay there. Jeff Keppinger gets the intentionals to bring up Ken Griffey Jr.?(ed. note - “Sorry, but...Don’tbringinManning, Don’tbringinManning, Don’tbringin Manning...”) DC Manager Manny Acta calls to the bullpen for lefty reliever Charlie Manning. Manning gets up 0-2 quickly, and the next pitch is in the dirt, 1-2...Griffey pops out. One more out? Manning does his job, and Luis Ayala’s on...Brandon Phillips drops a bloop single down the line in right, two runs score, 5-3 Cincy. 

Cristian Guzman hits a ground rule double to lead off the top of the eighth. Elijah Dukes’ Discerning Eye draws a walk. DY grounds to Brandon Phillips, who fields, spins, throws to second, Keppinger throws to first, double play. AK flies out to right. 5-3 Reds, middle of eight....Joey Votto flies out to start the home half of the eighth. DC righty Steven Shell throws a high fastball by Jay Bruce for out number two. David Ross down swinging...

Three outs to get two runs off Reds’ closer Francisco Cordero. Ronnie Belliard flies out to right...as it starts to rain...Jesus Flores goes down chasing. Wilie Harris grounds to Brandon Phillips, who throws to first...in time! Game over. 5-3 Cincinnati wins. 

Nationals now 34-53.