FanPost

Nats Return Favor, Blast 5 HR in Win

A day after suffering its worst loss in franchise history, the Nationals knew they had to show up the next day poised, and ready to play. After a 15-0 behemoth of a loss, the Nationals sent LHP Ross Detwiler to the mound against incumbent no. 5 starter RHP Mike Leake. Just the day prior, the Reds blasted 6 home runs, 4 of which came off of Nats newcomer Dan Haren. Detwiler and the Nationals looked to settle the score in the second of a three game series against the Reds.

Detwiler dominated through six innings of work as he cruised through the Reds lineup, allowing only 1 R (0 ER) and gave up 6 hits, striking out 1. Leake however did not find this same success against a Nationals lineup that was rearing to swing the bats, something they had not done thus far this season.

Bryce Harper (2-5), started the home run parade in the third inning as he lined an absolute laser of a home run to right, scoring Jayson Werth (3-5 with an RBI). Catcher Wilson Ramos followed suit in the 6th inning with a 2-run bomb of his own giving "National Det" a 4-1 lead heading into the 7th. Jayson Werth also hit his second home run in as many days, his second of the year, in the top of the 7th allowing Detwiler to turn the ball over to a bullpen who had much to prove, as they surrendered an absurd 9 runs to the Reds the day prior.

Tyler Clippard started the 7th inning off for the bullpen as he cruised through his inning of work, sitting down the Reds in order, 1-2-3, to include 2 nasty strikeouts of his own. Drew Storen struggled in the 8th inning allowing 2 R (1 ER). Third place ROY, Todd Frazier added his second RBI of the night and Ian Desmond and Bryce Harper did not contribute adding 2 errors in the inning allowing Jay Bruce to score allowing the Reds to tighten the Nats lead 5-3

. In the 9th, new Nats closer, Rafael Soriano, allowed Shin-Soo Choo to cap off the inning with a leadoff homer. First baseman Joey Votto then tripled over the head of CF Denard Span and later scored on a wild pitch to tie the game and send it into extras.

The Reds had the Nationals with their tails between their legs, only to be met by All Star closer, Aroldis "The Cuban Missile" Chapman. Chapman absolutely dominated the heart of the Nationals order, striking out the side on only 12 pitches! In the bottom of the inning, Todd Frazier, again was a thorn in the Nationals side and led off with a single. Second year SS Zach Cozart bunted Frazier to second only to have C Devin Mesoraco fly out. Reds manager Dusty Baker now faced a dilemma: either allow Chapman to bat with a runner in scoring position, or pinch hit for him and remove him from the equation.

Dusty gambled and flipped the wrong card with PH Jack Hannahan whiffing on 2 nasty curveballs in the dirt to give the Nationals new life. RHP J.J. Hoover was put in for Chapman only to be met by the wrath of SS Ian Desmond, who was having a dismal day at the plate (0-4 with a K). Desmond clobbered a 2-2 hanging off-speed pitch into the second deck in left to give the Nats the lead. Wilson Ramos however would not settle for a one run gap and launched his second homer of the game and 5th overall for the Nats.

Stammen worked the bottom of the frame striking out the first two batters only to meet the mighty Votto who walked and moved to second on interference. Brandon Phillips followed Votto with a double to make it a 7-6 game. Stammen blew a heater by Jay Bruce to close out the game and give the Nationals the curly "W" in a 7-6 F/11 victory and move them to 4-1 on the season.

Don't miss tomorrow's game as aces RHP Stephen Strasburg and RHP Johnny Cueto meet in a NL match-up for the ages. Game starts at 1:10 ET. Til next time Natituders!

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