The Cincinnati Reds dropped a series opener to the Washington Nationals.
WASHINGTON – A Cincinnati Reds team that looked like a playoff contender in New York pitched like a team making October vacation plans by the time they got done losing 10-8 to the not-good Nationals in Washington in the opener of a three-game series Monday.
The Nationals fired their president of baseball operations and manager two weeks ago and came into the series against the Reds having lost 10 of 12, and averaging just three runs per game in that stretch.
They scored that many alone on Daylen Lile's bases-loaded triple that capped a four-run first inning against Reds starter Brady Singer in his first start out of the All-Star break.
Singer, the veteran added in the offseason trade from Kansas City for Jonathan India, didn't make it out of the third on this night, eventually allowing seven earned runs.
Almost as big a problem as Singer's short start was just enough damage against the Reds bullpen to leave a comeback-minded lineup short after getting within two runs with a five-run fourth – and twice more late against the bullpen with the worst ERA in the majors. They brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth.
The Nats had runners on in all but one inning, totaling 15 hits and eight walks.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Brady Singer off key as Cincinnati Reds drop opener to Nationals
Category: Baseball
