Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Zack Cozart and Billy Hamilton each had two-run hits in the eighth inning to lead the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Casey Janssen (0-1) was an out away from getting out of a bases-loaded jam unscathed before Cozart lined a hit over Denard Span's head in center. He was charged with all four of Cincinnati's eighth-inning runs.
Joey Votto homered in the win, and Todd Frazier hit a pair of doubles. Raisel Iglesias allowed five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts, and the win went to J.J. Hoover (3-0) with a scoreless inning in relief.
Michael Taylor hit a three-run home run for Washington, which lost its first series since they were swept at Miami from April 24-26. Starter Gio Gonzalez allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts.
Right after Taylor's home run put Washington up 5-2, Gonzalez was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, and he would not last the next half inning on the mound. After a leadoff walk by Votto and double by Frazier, the Nationals conceded a run on a groundout, and Brayan Pena's single pulled the Reds within one.
"All of a sudden we're behind, and we fought back," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "I'm really proud of the guys."
Washington's bullpen settled the game down by retiring six straight batters after Gonzalez departed, but Frazier's second double of the day started the deciding rally. Jay Bruce followed with a walk, and Pena's infield single loaded the bases. Marlon Byrd lined out right to Dan Uggla for the second out, and Janssen had Cozart buried in an 0-2 count before his go-ahead double. Washington intentionally walked Skip Schumaker to pitch to Hamilton, who singled home two runs.
Aroldis Chapman walked two in the ninth to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but he struck out Uggla and Ryan Zimmerman to wrap up his 29th straight save opportunity.
The Nationals got on the board with two outs in the first. Yunel Escobar doubled down the left field line, and Zimmerman sent an Iglesias offering into center field for an RBI single.
After going 25 games without a home run, Votto hit one for the second straight day. His shot to the opposite field gave the Reds a 2-1 lead in the third.
Washington tied the game in the fifth when Danny Espinosa led off with a single, moved to second when Gonzalez was hit for the first time and scored on Span's single to left field.
Game Notes
Washington has not had consecutive losses since it lost six straight from April 22-27 ... National League home run leader Bryce Harper missed the game for Washington with back soreness ... Washington's Ian Desmond went 0-for-4 to snap his 13-game hitting streak ... Prior to the game, Washington placed starter Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list with neck soreness ... Escobar was ejected in the seventh for arguing a called strike ... Cincinnati sends rookie Michael Lorenzen to the mound Sunday in search of a series sweep. He will be opposed by Tanner Roark.
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