Nationals Knock Off Chase Burns, Beat Reds 8-2 for Second Straight Win
By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog
The Washington Nationals did something Saturday night that no team had accomplished against Cincinnati Reds ace Chase Burns in nearly four months.
They beat him.
Washington scored five runs against Burns and pulled away late for an 8-2 victory over Cincinnati at Nationals Park, securing its second consecutive victory over the Reds and putting the Nationals in position to complete a series sweep Sunday.
Andrés Chaparro provided the biggest blow off the bench, driving in three runs, while rookie Abimelec Ortiz added a two-run single. Washington scored six unanswered runs after Cincinnati tied the game in the sixth inning.
The victory improved Washington to 58-61. More importantly, the Nationals have now won three of four after previously enduring a season-worst seven-game losing streak.
Ortiz Strikes First Against Burns
Burns entered Saturday as one of the toughest pitchers in baseball.
The Cincinnati right-hander brought a 13-1 record into Nationals Park and had not lost a game since April 10. His 12-game winning streak represented the fifth-longest such streak in Reds history.
Washington was not intimidated.
José Tena opened the bottom of the third inning with a single to center field. Two batters later, CJ Abrams jumped on Burns’ first-pitch slider and drove a double down the right-field line.
That brought Ortiz to the plate with two runners in scoring position.
Burns jumped ahead 0-2, but Ortiz stayed alive and went the opposite way with a fastball, dropping a single into left field that scored both Tena and Abrams.
Washington suddenly led 2-0 against a pitcher who had spent months making those types of rallies extremely difficult.
For a young Nationals team searching for more consistency, it was an impressive piece of hitting from Ortiz.
Alvarez Keeps Cincinnati Quiet
Andrew Alvarez gave Washington exactly what it needed.
The left-hander held Cincinnati to one run on three hits and one walk over 5 1/3 innings. He kept a dangerous Reds lineup from producing sustained rallies and left Washington in position to win.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Alvarez’s recent run has been his ability to keep the ball in the ballpark.
Alvarez has now gone 51 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing a home run, the seventh-longest homerless streak by a Nationals pitcher since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005.
Cincinnati finally got to Washington after Alvarez departed.
Sal Stewart reached on an infield single that deflected off third base, prompting the Nationals to bring Max Kranick out of the bullpen.
Two batters later, former Nationals infielder Eugenio Suárez drove a fastball into the visitors’ bullpen in left field for a two-run home run.
Suárez homered for the second consecutive night and suddenly tied the game at two.
Alvarez was charged with one of the runs.
Washington responded immediately.
Nationals Break the Game Open in Sixth
Dylan Crews began the bottom of the sixth with a double.
Daylen Lile followed with another double, scoring Crews and giving Washington a 3-2 lead.
The inning quickly unraveled for Burns from there.
Burns loaded the bases and Cincinnati manager Terry Francona went to the bullpen, replacing his ace with Sam Moll.
Washington countered by sending Chaparro to the plate as a pinch hitter.
Chaparro immediately delivered.
He ripped a two-run double that gave Washington a 5-2 advantage and completely changed the complexion of the game. Chaparro later advanced on a wild pitch before Jacob Young singled him home to make it 6-2.
In a matter of minutes, Washington turned a 2-2 game against one of the National League’s hottest pitchers into a four-run advantage.
Burns finished after 5 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts. The five earned runs matched his season high.
His record fell to 13-2.
Chaparro Adds More Insurance
Washington was not finished.
The Nationals added two more runs in the eighth inning.
Chaparro drove in another run with an RBI single, giving him three RBIs despite beginning the game on the bench. Abrams then added an RBI single that pushed Washington’s lead to 8-2.
Chaparro’s performance became one of the biggest stories of the night.
Manager Blake Butera called on him in a crucial bases-loaded situation against a Cincinnati reliever, and Chaparro responded with the hit that broke the game open.
He later added another run-producing hit for good measure.
Washington’s offense received contributions throughout the lineup.
Ortiz drove in two. Lile delivered the go-ahead hit. Young brought home another run. Abrams doubled and drove in a run. Chaparro came off the bench and delivered three RBIs.
That is exactly the kind of balanced offensive production Washington needs from its young roster.
Nationals Beat One of Baseball’s Best Young Pitchers
Saturday’s victory carries some additional significance because of who Washington beat.
Burns entered the game 13-1 with a 2.35 ERA before Washington tagged him for five earned runs. He had won 12 straight decisions and had not suffered a loss since April 10.
Washington did not simply wait for Cincinnati’s bullpen.
The Nationals did their damage directly against Burns.
Ortiz’s two-run single opened the scoring. Crews and Lile combined to manufacture the go-ahead run in the sixth. Washington then forced Burns out of the game with the bases loaded.
That is an encouraging sign for a lineup built around several young players who continue gaining Major League experience.
Nationals Starting to Respond After Difficult Stretch
Only a few days ago, Washington appeared to be spiraling.
The Nationals had lost seven consecutive games and eight of nine before returning home for this series.
Now they have won three of four.
Washington opened the Cincinnati series Friday with a 5-3 victory behind home runs from Daylen Lile and Harry Ford. The Nationals followed that performance Saturday by scoring eight runs against a team still fighting for postseason positioning.
The Nationals have now secured the series regardless of Sunday’s result.
A sweep would make the turnaround even more meaningful.
Alvarez Continues Strong Development
Alvarez should not get lost in the offensive story.
Washington asked him to match Burns, and for more than five innings, he did.
Alvarez allowed three hits, walked only one batter and kept Cincinnati from hitting a home run during his appearance.
His 51 1/3-inning homerless streak deserves particular attention.
Home runs can quickly destroy an otherwise strong outing, especially against a lineup containing hitters such as Elly De La Cruz and Suárez. Alvarez’s ability to avoid the long ball has helped him consistently keep Washington competitive.
The Nationals remain focused on building for both the present and future, and starts like Saturday’s give the organization another young arm worth watching closely.
MSB Take
This might be one of Washington’s more impressive wins of the second half.
Beating Cincinnati is one thing.
Scoring five earned runs against Chase Burns is another.
Burns entered Saturday having won 12 consecutive decisions and had not lost since April 10. Washington did not back into this victory or wait until Burns left the game. The Nationals attacked him, worked traffic onto the bases and eventually forced him out during their decisive sixth-inning rally.
Abimelec Ortiz deserves plenty of credit for his two-strike, opposite-field single in the third. Daylen Lile delivered another important hit. Andrés Chaparro came off the bench and essentially blew the game open.
Andrew Alvarez also deserves recognition.
He gave Washington 5 1/3 strong innings against a dangerous Cincinnati lineup and extended his streak without allowing a home run beyond 51 innings.
The Nationals have gone through some ugly stretches this season, including the seven-game losing streak they recently snapped. But there continues to be enough young talent on this roster to make the remainder of the season worth watching.
Washington has now taken the first two games against a Reds club that came to D.C. playing well and fighting for a postseason spot.
That is a good response from a Nationals team that badly needed one.
Up Next
The Nationals will go for the three-game sweep Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.
Washington right-hander Brad Lord is scheduled to face Cincinnati right-hander Brady Singer. Singer enters at 5-10 with a 4.67 ERA, while Lord is 5-2 with a 3.81 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
After entering the weekend trying simply to stop another losing stretch, Washington suddenly has an opportunity to sweep a postseason contender.
Final: Washington Nationals 8, Cincinnati Reds 2
