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Washington Nationals fall to Cincinnati Reds, lose Strasburg

Joey Votto and Todd Frazier homered for Cincinnati, while Washington lost Stephen Strasburg after just 16 pitches in the Reds' 5-2 win over the Nationals.

After allowing Votto's home run in the first inning, Strasburg walked Brayan Pena to lead off the second and then exited the field with the team's trainer. Taylor Jordan (0-1) was charged with three runs in 4 2/3 innings of long relief.

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Anthony DeSclafani (3-4) limited the Nats to two runs on eight hits in six innings for the Reds. Zack Cozart collected three hits at the top of Cincinnati's lineup.

Washington failed to score in the first with runners on the corners and one out, and the Reds went up 1-0 in the bottom of the inning on Votto's home run to left field.

Strasburg buried Pena in an 0-2 count in the second before throwing four straight balls. After the walk, he departed from the game following a quick visit from the trainer and manager Matt Williams.

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Jordan helped himself in the fifth when he reached first base on a bunt single that loaded the bases when he was trying to sacrifice runners into scoring position. Denard Span grounded out for the second out, but Ian Desmond beat out an infield hit to tie the game.

An inning later, Washington's Ryan Zimmerman hit a double past a diving Jay Bruce in the right-center field gap, then scored on Wilson Ramos' single when he evaded Pena's lunging tag after Billy Hamilton's throw took the catcher up the third-base line.

The Reds answered emphatically in their half of the sixth. With two runners in scoring position, Brandon Phillips hit a deep fly ball to left field. Michael Taylor's throw home beat Marlon Byrd to the plate, but Ramos could not handle the hop and Byrd scored while colliding with Ramos.

Hamilton then put Cincinnati back in front with a bloop single to center field, and scored himself on Cozart's hit after stealing second base.

Washington had two runners reach base in each of the next two innings but could not plate another run.

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Frazier's 15th home run of the season extended Cincinnati's lead to 5-2 in the seventh, and Aroldis Chapman recorded his eighth save with two strikeouts during a scoreless ninth.

Game Notes

Chapman has converted 28 consecutive save attempts ... Desmond extended his hitting streak to 13 games ... Washington left 13 runners on base ... Reds hitters only struck out twice.

[SportsNetwork.com]

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