Reds dig hole, can't climb out, lose to Nationals

Nationals 10 Reds 8 

It wasn't pretty.

A combined 24 hits, 18 runs, 16 walks, 14 pitchers used and 350 pitches thrown. And it wasn't a win.

The Nationals led 5-0 in the 1st, and 7-0 after a less than inspired looking first three innings by the Reds. 

Down 7-0, the Reds answered with five runs in the 4th. They'd cut things to 8-6 in the 5th and 10-8 in the 9th, but never could draw even.

That’s back-to-back defeats (52-49) after getting a season five games over .500.

The Nationals entered having lost 10 of 12, scoring just eight runs in their previous five games.

The Reds have dropped 3 of 4 to the Nationals this season. Since 2016, they are 21-37 vs the Nationals….outscored 276-332. 

Singer: 2.1 IN, 5 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 1 K, HR, HBP, 57 pitches. 
4-R 1st: BB, 2B, 2B, BB, K, 3B. Tied shortest outing season. 
Had allowed more than 4 runs (7) once in 19 starts. 

Offense: 9 H, 8 BB, 3 K 
Elly: 3 BB, 3 R, SB (26)...22 games w/o HR. But hitting .319 in previous 21.
Fraley: 2 H, 2B, RBI 
Marte: 2 H, 2 RBI, R 
Hays: 2 BB, R 
McLain: H. 7 game hit streak.
Lux: 2 H, 2 RBI, R
Benson: PH in 9th and K on three fastballs. Batting .222.

Bullpen: 5.2, 10 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 7 K.
Richardson 1.0, 1 R (30 pitches)
Barlow 1.0  (20 pitches)
Moll 1.1, R. (29 pitches)
Ashcraft 0.1, R, allowed inherited runner to score (9 pitches)
Rogers 1.0 (20 pitches)
Suter 1.0 (24 pitches)

Pitchers used/thrown:
Reds: 7/189
Nationals: 7/ 161

How they scored:
4th: Lux RBI 1B, Steer RBI 1B, Marte RBI 1B, Fraley RBI 1B, Marte R on DP. 
5th: Marte RBI 1B, 8-6 
9th: Lux RBI 1B, Elly scores on WP, 10-8