Reds 8, Nationals 5

WASHINGTON - The Reds scored three runs in the 11th inning to beat the Nationals 8-5 and snap a three-game losing streak.

Drew Stubbs, who entered as part of a double switch, singled to start the rally. Wilson Valdez popped up trying to bunt Stubbs over. Zack Cozart followed with a single. Joey Votto lined one over left fielder Mark DeRosa’s head for a two-run double. Scott Rolen singled to get Votto in and make it 8-5.

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Sean Marshall worked the 11th for his first save as Red. Jose Arredondo earned the win.

It was the fourth time in five games that the Reds and the Nationals went overtime.

The Reds blew a 5-0 lead for that to happen.

Ryan Ludwick doubled the Reds run total in the series here with one swing of the bat. Ludwick’s grand slam in the first inning gave the Reds a 4-0 lead.

The Reds got some breaks before the home run, which was Ludwick’s first as a Red and the Reds’ first seven games.

Cozart singled with one out in the first. Votto was called out on strikes. Rolen reached on shortstop Ian Desmond’s throwing error. First baseman Adam LaRoche and Washington manager Davey Johnson argued that Rolen was out.

Jay Bruce then walked on 3-2 pitch. It could have been called Strike 3.

Ludwick fell behind 0-2. He took a 1-2 pitch that could have been Strike 3. He then sent one out to left center. It was his second career grand slam.

The Reds added a run in the fourth. Ludwick and Chris Heisey singled with one out. Ryan Hanigan singled to get Ludwick home and make it 5-0.

Mike Leake did not allow a hit through the first three.

Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa started the Washington fourth with singles. Ryan Zimmerman walked to load the bases. Adam LaRoche got two runs in with a single to right. He went to second on Bruce’s error.

Leake got Jayson Werth to pop out, but Zimmerman scored on Mark DeRosa’s groundout to make it 5-3.

The Nats closed to within one in the fifth. Pinch-hitter Roger Bernadina walked with one out. Ian Desmond hit a bolt to center. Heisey took a step in and then had it get just over his head for a run-scoring double.

The Reds had a chance to get Bernadina, but the relay from Cozart got away from Hanigan.

Leake allowed a leadoff double in the seventh. He got the next hitter and then gave way to Logan Ondrusek. Ondrusek struck out Chad Tracy. But Desmond singled up the middle to Ankiel in.

Leake went 6 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out one.

Aroldis Chapman pitched the eighth and ninth. He allowed one hit and struck out four. He’s gone eight innings this year, allowed three hits, no walks and struck out 15.

**Stardust** · 04-15-2012, 09:13 PM

WASHINGTON — “Finally, they couldn’t walk Joey,” Dusty Baker said.

Votto came up in the seventh and the ninth with runners in scoring position. The Nationals intentionally walked him both times. Both times Scott Rolen followed by striking out to end the inning.

The difference was in the 11th innings first base was not open. The Nats allowed Tyler Clippard to pitch to Votto. Votto went the opposite way with a double to left to make it 7-5. Rolen drove in Votto to push it 8-5.

That’s how it ended.

Votto wasn’t surprised the Nats challenged him.

“That’s totally different situation,” he said. “It was first and second. The other times, they had a base open. Tyler’s difficult to face in that situation. I haven’t had a lot of success off him. I don’t particularly like facing him.”

Votto was 1-for-4 with a strikeout versus Clippard. But he threw a low fastball. Votto didn’t miss it. It got over Mark DeRosa’s head in a flash.

Sean Marshall wrapped it up for his first save as a Red, and the Reds crew got out of town with a much-needed win.

“We would have like to split the series,” Votto said. “We would have like to win that long game (Friday). But you take what you can get this time of year. That sounds like a pathetic approach. But it really is an odd time of the year.”

The Reds led this one 5-0. The game was 4-0, thanks Ryan Ludwick’s grand slam, in fact, before the Nationals came to bat.

“In my opinion, this is a huge win,” Ludwick said. “We walk out of here getting swept, it totally different feeling. They came back. Then Joey gets big hit late. It’s just a big win, a really, really big win.”

**OffTheHook** · 04-16-2012, 02:08 AM

Are we ever gonna pick up a couple in a row!

**Mr. Pike Central** · 04-16-2012, 02:54 AM

They pitched around Votto allday, but finally got in a position where they couldn't.

...and he burned them.