Nationals complete series sweep with dominant 7-1 victory over Reds
Abimelec Ortiz and Jacob Young contribute key offensive runs in a comprehensive shutout of Cincinnati, highlighting the Nationals' recent resurgence.
The Washington Nationals concluded their series against the Cincinnati Reds with a decisive 7-1 victory on Sunday, securing a complete sweep. The win marks the fourth success in five games for Washington, underscoring a period of improved form for the franchise as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Will Dion, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Guardians, earned his first win of the year with a strong performance on the mound. Dion pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on a single hit after retiring the first nine batters he faced. He was supported by a robust bullpen effort, with Trevor Williams contributing 2 1/3 scoreless innings and maintaining a 0.00 earned run average since his return from elbow surgery on July 29. Jake Bird closed out the game with a hitless ninth inning, while Brad Lord surrendered the only run allowed during his start.
Offensively, the Nationals were led by Abimelec Ortiz, who hit his second career home run in the third inning. The 24-year-old’s opposite-field fly ball off Reds pitcher Brady Singer extended Washington’s lead to 3-1. Singer, who finished with a record of 5-11, allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings. Jacob Young and Andrés Chaparro each drove in two runs, with Chaparro capping the scoring with a two-run double.
The game saw early momentum shifts, with Dane Myers hitting a sacrifice fly in the second inning to give Cincinnati a 1-0 lead. However, Keibert Ruiz tied the game at 1-1 with a single in the same inning, and Young subsequently gave Washington the lead for good with a sacrifice fly. Daylen Lile added to the offensive output in the seventh inning with a single to right field that plated CJ Abrams.
The Nationals will face the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, with a starter yet to be announced. Meanwhile, the Reds will look to rebound against the White Sox, with left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.60 ERA) scheduled to start game one. The Reds were outscored 20-6 over the course of the series.
