Lile, Ford Power Nationals Past Reds 5-3 to Open Series
By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog
The Washington Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 Friday night at Nationals Park, using a pair of home runs and another strong outing from Cade Cavalli to snap out of a difficult stretch.
Washington entered the night having won only once in its previous nine games, but Daylen Lile and Harry Ford supplied all five Nationals runs with two big swings. Cavalli worked into the seventh inning and the bullpen protected the two-run advantage to give Washington its second victory in 10 games.
The win improved the Nationals to 57-61 on the season and gave Washington a 1-0 lead in the three-game series. Cincinnati fell to 56-59 after losing for just the second time in eight games.
Lile Makes Cincinnati Pay Early
The Nationals immediately took advantage of a Cincinnati mistake in the bottom of the first inning.
CJ Abrams opened the inning with a single. With one out, Brady House hit what appeared to be a potential double-play ground ball toward Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. De La Cruz could not handle it, allowing Abrams to reach third and House to reach first safely.
Lile made the error costly.
The Nationals outfielder launched a three-run home run to right field, giving Washington an early 3-0 advantage. It was Lile’s 15th home run of the season.
Cincinnati responded almost entirely through the long ball.
Eugenio Suárez hit a solo home run in the second inning before Matt McLain and De La Cruz connected on back-to-back solo shots in the third. The three home runs erased Washington’s early advantage and tied the game at 3-3.
Ford Puts Nationals Back in Front
Washington answered in the fourth.
Lile led off the inning with a double, continuing his big night at the plate. Ford followed by driving a Julian Garcia pitch over the wall in left-center field for a two-run home run.
Just like that, Washington had regained a 5-3 lead.
Those would be the final runs scored by either team.
Lile finished 2-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBI while Ford drove in the other two Washington runs.
Cavalli Delivers Another Strong Start
Cavalli surrendered three home runs, but all three came with the bases empty. Outside of those swings, the right-hander largely controlled Cincinnati’s lineup.
Cavalli allowed three runs on seven hits across six-plus innings. He walked two and struck out eight while throwing 100 pitches. The performance marked his sixth consecutive quality start and improved his record to 9-5.
The Reds finally threatened to change the game in the seventh.
Noelvi Marte and Ke’Bryan Hayes opened the inning with consecutive singles, ending Cavalli’s night. Yovanny Cruz entered and struck out McLain before walking De La Cruz to load the bases.
Washington then received perhaps its biggest defensive play of the evening.
Sal Stewart hit a ground ball up the middle that appeared capable of scoring at least one run. Shortstop Nasim Nuñez reached the ball, stepped on second and fired to first to complete an inning-ending double play.
Instead of potentially trimming Washington’s lead or tying the game, Cincinnati came away empty.
It was the second important double play involving Stewart. He also grounded into one with runners on first and second in the fifth inning.
Bullpen Finishes the Job
Orlando Ribalta handled the eighth inning before Washington turned the ninth over to Clayton Beeter.
Beeter retired Cincinnati in order to earn his 12th save of the season and secure the Nationals’ 5-3 victory.
Cincinnati’s Chase Petty worked 1 2/3 innings in his first major league start since May 23, allowing three runs — two earned — on two hits and one walk.
Garcia took the loss after surrendering Ford’s two-run homer during his 2 1/3 innings.
MSB Take
This was exactly the type of game the Nationals needed after a difficult stretch.
Washington did not generate a huge offensive night, but it capitalized when opportunities appeared. De La Cruz’s first-inning error opened the door and Lile immediately punished Cincinnati. After the Reds responded with three solo home runs, Lile helped create another opportunity before Ford delivered the decisive swing.
The encouraging part continues to be Cavalli.
Giving up three home runs normally creates problems, but Cavalli limited the damage by keeping runners off base and recording eight strikeouts. Six consecutive quality starts are an important development for a Nationals club trying to determine which pitchers can become long-term pieces of its rotation.
Washington also made the defensive play it needed when Cincinnati threatened in the seventh. Nuñez’s double play was every bit as important as one of the Nationals’ home runs.
Lile continues to give Washington another young offensive weapon to build around, and Friday was one of his best all-around performances of the season.
Up Next
The Nationals and Reds continue the series Saturday night at Nationals Park.
Cincinnati is scheduled to send All-Star right-hander Chase Burns (13-1) to the mound against Washington left-hander Andrew Alvarez (2-3).
Final: Washington Nationals 5, Cincinnati Reds 3
