Updated

Joey Votto smacked his second solo homer of 4 victory and game sweep of the Nationals on Sunday.

Votto, who homered almost five hours earlier in the first inning, reached out to poke Collin Balester's 3-2 fastball over the left field wall for his 26th homer of the season.

Earlier, Yonder Alonso homered to lead off the ninth inning, tying the game at 4-4 for the Reds after they had coughed up a lead by allowing the Nationals to score once in the eighth and ninth.

Cincinnati swept the Nationals for the first time since taking four straight from July 3-6, 2008.

Washington has lost a season high-tying six straight games. The Nationals were 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position and are just 6-for-54 in their last four games.