Joey Votto glows as Cincinnati Reds edge past Washington Nationals 5-4 - MLB Update
Cincinnati Red’s first baseman, Joey Votto outclassed the pitchers right through the game as he went 2-for-5 and hit two walk-off homers including two RBIs in the Reds’ 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati on August
28.
Nationals’ batters gave their team a tremendous and quick start as they smashed their initial run during the first inning. Similarly, Reds also posted one run at the bottom of first inning to level the game 1-1. Rick Ankiel scored a single run when Danny
Espinosa struck a one-run drive to centre-field but Michael Morse was thrown out at third base without adding any run.
On the other side, Votto hit a solo homer towards right-field to score a tie run for Reds. During second and third innings, the batters got out without posting even a single run for their respective teams. At the top of third inning, Ankiel and Espinosa
both were struck-out while at short-stop position, Morse grounded out. Jayson Werth moved to second base to end the third inning.
During fourth inning, Reds went ahead 2-1 when Jay Bruce hit a one-run homer towards right-centre. Both teams again contributed one run each to move their individual score-cards but the Reds remained on top with 3-2 lead, in the fifth inning. Ian Desmond
added the tie run for Nationals when Ankiel singled off centre-field and Werth moved to second base.
Conversely, Reds’ catcher, Ryan Hanigan scored a leading run at the bottom of fifth inning when Fred Lewis walked. Brandon Phillips moved to second base and Johnny Cueto occupied third base to end the fifth inning. The pitchers had control over the sixth
and seventh inning as they did not present any run.
Reds’ starter Cueto pitched superbly in a thrilling game as he threw his seven innings with an ERA of just 2.05 including 11 strike-outs. He gave up just two runs, nine hits, one walk and two earned runs on his 119 pitches.
Ryan Zimmerman singled to centre-field and Espinosa contributed a tie run during eighth inning to again level the game with 3-3. In the ninth inning, the score-board advanced but remained equal with 4-4. Ian Desmond scored for Nationals and Yonder Alonso
homered towards right-centre to keep the Reds alive.
In the 14th inning, Votto hit a walk-off homer to give the Reds a 5-4 lead. However, Reds swept the Nationals 3-0 after having an exciting win.
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