Washington Nationals’ lineup for series finale with the Cincinnati Reds

Gerardo Parra had only started once since May 21st, but Washington Nationals’ manager Davey Martinez put the veteran outfielder in center field for the second of three with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, and Parra proceeded to go 3 for 4 with a three-run homer, three RBIs, and a run scored in the 5-2 win in Great American Ball Park.

Parra is now 14 for 40 (.350 AVG) with three doubles, three home runs, and 12 RBIs in 14 games and 10 starts, since joining the Nationals on May 10th.

Going into the game on Saturday, Parra was 6 for 17 (.353 AVG) with two doubles and a home run off Roark in their respective careers, and he’d hit three of his six doubles and three home runs off right-handers this season.

Matt Adams, who was 5 for 9 with two home runs off Roark, had four of his five homers this season off right-handers as well, so he was in there against the Reds, going 1 for 4 with his own home run, a solo shot in the fourth that went screaming into the right field seats.

Martinez talked after the game about his thinking in putting both in and splitting up the left and right-handed hitters in the Nationals’ lineup.

“They’ve been really good,” he said of Parra and Adams.

“Like I said, those guys against right-handed pitching, they hit the ball really well. I was glad I was able to separate them and break them up a little bit. I know I changed, I put [Adam] Eaton leadoff, but I want to keep all the lefties apart, and [Brian] Dozier, he did a great job as well today in the six hole, so it was kind of nice.”

Dozier hit the third of the Nationals’ three home runs, which accounted for all five runs in the win.

Going up against right-hander Sonny Gray in the series finale with the Reds today, Martinez put Parra, Adams, and Dozier back in there with Max Scherzer on the mound for the Nats...

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR TODAY’S FINALE WITH THE REDS: