CINCINNATI (AP) — Will Benson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit back-to-back residence runs with two outs within the ninth inning, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a series-clinching 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
Cincinnati trailed 5-3 when Jonathan India hit a two-out double off Kyle Finnegan (0-1). Benson drove a first-pitch splitter to straightaway middle to tie it up. Encarnacion-Strand swung over a low splitter, then drove an up splitter 387 ft into the left-field seats for his first hit in 13 at-bats this season because the Reds streamed out of their dugout to have a good time.
“I had an concept of what I wished to do all three video games. I simply wasn’t executing,” Encarnacion-Strand mentioned. “After I assume to simply hit the ball arduous, it shrinks every little thing for me.”
With the Reds right down to their ultimate out, India dueled with Finnegan, fouling off six pitches earlier than lining a 96.6 mph fastball down the left-field line.
“I watched Jonathan’s at-bat,” Benson mentioned. “It gave me an opportunity to get my timing down. I appeared for a pitch over the plate and I received it.”
Encarnacion-Strand struck out twice and hit into two double performs earlier than his walk-off hit.
“He’s all the time able to developing with the massive hit, the massive at-bat,” Reds supervisor David Bell mentioned. “Whenever you’re in a position to do it along with your again in opposition to the wall like that and proceed to grind out at-bats, it certain is numerous enjoyable to be part of.”
Lucas Sims (1-0) retired three straight batters within the ninth.
Nick Martinez, in his Reds debut, allowed three runs and 6 hits in 5 innings.
Jake Fraley had three hits for the Reds, who received on opening day and misplaced Saturday.
Trey Lipscomb hit his first main league homer within the seventh inning for the Nationals. CJ Abrams hit a solo homer within the third inning and added an eighth-inning sacrifice fly, and Lane Thomas had a two-run single within the fifth.
Nationals starter Jake Irvin allowed three runs and 7 hits in 5 innings.
“That’s powerful. Three-two (depend), double. Homer. Homer. that’s the way it ended,” Nationals supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. “However the final two video games I’m happy at how we performed the sport. We performed arduous. we performed powerful. It’s simply unlucky. Whenever you get an opportunity to enter the ninth inning along with your nearer, normally good issues occur.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
LHP Nick Lodolo (left tibia) gave up a run and two hits in 5 innings of a rehab begin at Triple-A Louisville. He struck out eight and walked three, throwing 49 of 77 pitches for strikes.
UP NEXT
Nationals: LHP MacKenzie Gore will get the beginning in opposition to RHP Marco Gonzales as Washington opens a house collection in opposition to the Pirates.
Reds: LHP Andrew Abbott will get the beginning for Cincinnati in opposition to Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez within the opener of a three-game set in Philadelphia.
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