Eddie Rosario wrapped up a ninth-inning rally against Alexis Díaz with a clutch sacrifice fly, helping the Washington Nationals secure a 7-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
In the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Nick Martini’s two-run double off Hunter Harvey gave the Reds a 6-4 lead.
Díaz, known for his All-Star performances, struggled in the ninth, walking CJ Abrams and giving up a crucial RBI single to Jesse Winker. He then allowed singles to Joey Meneses and a walk to Joey Gallo.
Díaz unintentionally hit Keibert Ruiz with a pitch, bringing in the tying run. Rosario’s fly to left field brought in the go-ahead run, with pinch-runner Nasim Nuñez scoring.
The Nationals held onto their lead in the bottom of the ninth, securing the win with Kyle Finnegan pitching. Manager Dave Martinez praised the team’s resilience, emphasizing their fighting spirit until the last out.
In his MLB debut, Nationals’ third baseman Trey Lipscomb impressed with a hit and strong defensive plays. He singled in his first at-bat and showcased his defensive skills with a crucial play to end the game.
Starting pitcher Patrick Corbin had a mixed performance, allowing four runs over 4 1/3 innings, while Reds’ starter Hunter Greene struck out seven over 4 2/3 innings.
Despite Greene’s solid performance, the Reds were hindered by defensive miscues, which manager David Bell acknowledged.
Keibert Ruiz added a solo home run in the eighth inning off Lucas Sims to bolster the Nationals’ offense.
