Reds' Late Surge Not Enough in Clash with Nationals at Nationals Park

The Cincinnati Reds, now standing at a 47-51 record, faced off against the Washington Nationals, who improved their season to 45-53 after the latest game. In a contest that saw both teams fighting hard, the final score settled at 8-5 in favor of the Nationals.

The Reds showcased resilience throughout the game, particularly evident in their late-game attempt to turn the tide. Despite trailing for most of the match, Cincinnati's hitters managed to put together a rally in the ninth inning that brought them four runs closer to victory. This surge was highlighted by an impressive performance from Jake Fraley who achieved a perfect batting average of 1.000 and drove in two runs for his team.

On the pitching side, Antonio Santillan and Brent Suter both delivered flawless ERA performances from the bullpen, not allowing any earned runs and keeping their WHIP at 0.0. Their efforts were crucial in keeping Cincinnati within striking distance throughout the latter stages of the game.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Cincinnati's pitchers as starter Francelis Montas struggled on the mound with an ERA of 13.5 over his outing and a WHIP nearing two (1.9286). His performance underscored some of the challenges faced by Reds' starters this season.

Despite these valiant efforts from key players and late-game heroics, defensive missteps played a part in Cincinnati's downfall as they committed one error during critical moments which contributed to their loss against Washington.

As fans look ahead, they can catch The Reds as they continue their series against The Nationals at Nationals Park on July 20th at 6:45 PM EDT. This matchup will be broadcasted on MASN for those eager to see if Cincinnati can bounce back after this tough loss.