Will Benson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand smashed consecutive home runs with two outs in the ninth inning, propelling the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, securing the series win.
Cincinnati was trailing 5-3 when Jonathan India smashed a two-out double off Kyle Finnegan (0-1). Benson then slammed a first-pitch splitter to straightaway center field, leveling the score. Encarnacion-Strand, after swinging over a low splitter, connected with an up splitter, sending the ball 387 feet into the left-field seats for his first hit in 13 at-bats this season, prompting the Reds to rush out of their dugout in celebration.
“I had an idea of what I wanted to do all three games. I just wasn’t executing,” Encarnacion-Strand said. “When I think to just hit the ball hard, it shrinks everything for me.”
With the Reds down to their final out, India battled against Finnegan, fouling off six pitches before lacing a 96.6 mph fastball down the left-field line. “I watched Jonathan’s at-bat,” Benson said. “It gave me a chance to get my timing down. I looked for a pitch over the plate and I got it.”
Encarnacion-Strand, who had struck out twice and hit into two double plays earlier in the game, delivered the walk-off hit. Reds manager David Bell praised his ability to come through in clutch situations, stating, “He’s always capable of coming up with the big hit, the big at-bat.
When you’re able to do it with your back against the wall like that and continue to grind out at-bats, it sure is a lot of fun to be a part of.”
Lucas Sims (1-0) retired three consecutive batters in the ninth inning. In his Reds debut, Nick Martinez allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. Jake Fraley recorded three hits for the Reds, who won on opening day but lost on Saturday.
Trey Lipscomb hit his first major league homer in the seventh inning for the Nationals. CJ Abrams also contributed with a solo homer in the third inning and an eighth-inning sacrifice fly, while Lane Thomas had a two-run single in the fifth.
