Nationals 4 - 5 Reds
Final/14
  for this game

Reds try to go over .500 and sweep the Nats

Aug 28, 2011 - 2:40 PM (Sports Network) - Johnny Cueto tries to put the Cincinnati Reds over .500 for the first time in almost two months this afternoon when they wrap up a three- game set with the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds have won the first two games of this set to get back to the break- even mark and on Saturday, Brandon Phillips continued to produce in the leadoff spot and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, propelling Cincinnati to a 6-3 win.

In 10 games since moving to the top of the order Phillips is 19-for-43 (.442) with 10 RBI and the Reds are 7-3 in that span.

Drew Stubbs had three hits and a sacrifice fly for the Reds, who built on Friday's ninth-inning win in the opener of this series to improve to 11-5 in their last 16 games.

They are .500 (66-66) for the first time since July 6 and haven't been above since July 3.

Mike Leake (11-8) earned the win in six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four.

Wilson Ramos, Jayson Werth and Michael Morse all hit solo homers for the Nationals, who have lost five straight. Chris Marrero, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, roped a single into left field in the fourth inning for his first major league hit in the loss.

Ross Detwiler (2-4) took the loss after giving up six runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and a walk in six innings. He is 1-4 in his last five starts.

Cueto did not get a decision his last time out on Tuesday in Florida, as he allowed three runs and four hits with a career-high six walks in his team's 8-6 win. He is 9-5 on the year with a 2.03 earned run average.

In six starts versus the Nationals Cueto is 4-2 with a 4.17 ERA.

Washington, meanwhile, will counter with righty Jordan Zimmerman, who is 8-11 with a 3.10 ERA. Zimmerman lost for the second time in three starts on Tuesday to Arizona, as he allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Zimmerman beat the Reds two starts ago in his only other appearance against them, scattering six hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

Washington took two of three from the Reds last week. The Reds, though, haven't completed a three-game sweep of the Nats since July 2008.






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