Jul 3, 2008 - 9:33 AM
0 shoutsWashington (34-52) at Cincinnati (39-47), 7:10 p.m. EDT
CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- A visit from the lowly Washington Nationals is exactly what the Cincinnati Reds need to get back on track.
Two last-place teams meet Thursday when the Reds and Nationals open a four-game series at Great American Ballpark.
Cincinnati has lost nine of its last 12 home games, dropping four consecutive series in the process after previously posting a 12-1 record there.
The Reds suffered their second straight loss on Wednesday, 9-5, against the Pittsburgh Pirates despite rookie Jay Bruce's first career multi-home run game. Bruce, Cincinnati's top prospect, added four RBI on Wednesday after driving in just four runs over his previous 21 games.
The Reds are hoping Bruce can continue to break out of his slump against Nationals starter John Lannan (4-9, 3.54 ERA), who hasn't earned a victory since May 18.
Johnny Cueto (6-8, 4.68) counters for the Reds after snapping a personal three-game losing streak by pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings en route to a 5-0 victory against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.
From the Bleachers
-
WASHINGTON: 3
CINCINNATI: 5
Final
Jul 3 9:40 PM -
NL
AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BRANDON PHILLIPS SCORED COREY PATTERSON AND JERRY
HAIRSTON JR.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B PHILLIPS ON SECOND, J KEPPINGER ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3
CINCINNATI 5 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: E ENCARNACION (.244, 1-FO
Jul 3 9:18 PM -
NL
AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOEY VOTTO SCORED BRANDON PHILLIPS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J VOTTO ON FIRST, E ENCARNACION ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3
CINCINNATI 3 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J BRUCE (.290, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Jul 3 8:51 PM -
NL
AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BRANDON PHILLIPS SCORED JERRY HAIRSTON JR.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B PHILLIPS ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3
CINCINNATI 2 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: E ENCARNACION (.242, 0-FOR-2)
Jul 3 8:49 PM -
NL
AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ELIJAH DUKES (6) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
6TH OFF JOHNNY CUETO.
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3, CINCINNATI 1
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: D YOUNG (.264, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Jul 3 8:33 PM -
NL
AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY AUSTIN KEARNS SCORED ELIJAH DUKES.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A KEARNS ON FIRST, D YOUNG ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 2
CINCINNATI 1 TOP, 4TH
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R BELLIARD (.221, 0-FOR-1)
Jul 3 8:03 PM -
NL
AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ELIJAH DUKES SCORED CRISTIAN GUZMAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E DUKES ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1
CINCINNATI 1 TOP, 4TH
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: D YOUNG (.264, 0-FOR-1)
Jul 3 7:58 PM -
NL
AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JERRY HAIRSTON JR SCORED DAVID ROSS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J HAIRSTON JR ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 0
CINCINNATI 1 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J KEPPINGER (.306, 0-FOR-1)
Jul 3 7:49 PM
