Josh Bell had two hits, including a home run, and the Washington Nationals jumped out to a 7-0 lead before holding on for a 10-8 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.
Brady House and Jacob Young had three hits apiece, Daylen Lile had two hits, including a three-run triple, and James Wood had two doubles for Washington, which won for just the second time in eight games.
Nationals reliever Andrew Chafin (1-0) pitched a scoreless and hitless sixth inning. Staked to the 7-0 lead, Jake Irvin only made it through 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on six hits with three walks.
Cincinnati’s Gavin Lux singled home Matt McLain to make it 10-7 in the ninth. With one out and runners on the corners, Kyle Finnegan struck out Will Benson. Elly De La Cruz scored on a wild pitch, but Noelvi Marte popped out to end the game.
Lux and Marte both had two hits and two RBIs for the Reds. Starter Brady Singer (7-8) lasted just 2 1/3 innings while surrendering seven runs on five hits.
CJ Abrams walked to lead off the bottom of the first and scored on Wood’s double. Bell doubled with Wood stopping at third and Nathaniel Lowe walked to load the bases. After House struck out, Lile tripled down the first-base line to make it 4-0.
Bell increased the lead to 5-0 when he homered leading off the third. House later singled, Lile was hit by a pitch and Riley Adams doubled with two outs to cash in House. Young singled home Lile to make it 7-0.
Cincinnati rallied in the fourth. De La Cruz and Austin Hays walked before Lux singled to score De La Cruz. Hays scored on Spencer Steer’s single and Marte’s single brought home Lux. Jake Fraley singled home Steer and Marte made it 7-5 when he scored on a double play.
Wood doubled to lead off the Washington half inning and scored on House’s sacrifice fly.
De La Cruz walked leading off the fifth, stole second and later scored on Marte’s single to make it 8-6. Fraley walked to load the bases with two outs, but Cole Henry retired Jose Trevino.
Washington got insurance runs in the sixth on Ahmed Rosario’s RBI double and Young’s run-scoring single.
