WASHINGTON -- The Reds arrived in the nation’s capital fresh off an impressive series win over the Mets, giving them six victories in eight games.
This was a good time to take advantage of the Nationals, a team that had struggled for the better part of two months, fired its manager and general manager and limped into Monday with a 39-60 record.
Looking to bounce back after a 10-8 loss in the opener, the Reds felt good with having their top prospect on the bump in right-hander Chase Burns.
Despite smooth sailing for most of the first four innings, Burns ran into trouble in the fifth and sixth, and it all unraveled in a 6-1 loss to the last-place Nationals.
Burns threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts. His slider was again lethal as he struck out nine of the first 14 batters he faced.
Josh Bell hit a solo homer to right field in the fourth on a Burns slider, one of the few that the Nationals were able to hit all night.
Then in the fifth, the Nationals delivered RBI doubles by Jacob Young and CJ Abrams to take the lead.
"[I] felt great going into [this start],” Burns said. “I was making a lot of good pitches. I think they put some good swings on it. I think I got a little fatigued there at the end. They just stacked up some good hits."
The 22-year-old Burns was given a shot to get out of the sixth inning down 3-1. With the bases loaded and two out, the Reds stayed with him.
"It gives me a lot of confidence that Tito [manager Terry Francona] and [pitching coach] Derek Johnson have faith in me to go out there and keep the game close,” Burns said. “It didn't happen tonight, but that's what happens sometimes."
On a 2-1 count, Nationals catcher Riley Adams delivered a line-drive single to right field that scored two. Another run came across on a throwing error by Jake Fraley.
"We got hits,” said Francona. “We just didn't string them together. We knew their starter probably wouldn't go real deep by design, and [Konnor] Pilkington came in and gave them two real good innings. We are down 3-1, and it looks like Burns is maybe going to wiggle out of it. And they get the big hit that kind of spread the game out."
For all that has gone right for Cincinnati as it seeks a National League Wild Card spot, losing a series against the Nationals was not part of the plan. The Reds trail the Padres by 3 1/2 games for the third and final spot, with the Rays, Dodgers, Braves and Cubs coming up next on the schedule.
Cincinnati’s remaining opponents have an MLB-high .521 winning percentage. The next eight games are at home before the MLB Speedway Classic against the Braves in Bristol, Tenn., on Aug. 2.
These games are critical for the Reds.
"I think we want to win every day,” Francona said. “That's what we are trying to do. We haven't done a very good job here the last couple of days, but we will be back here in less than 12 hours to see if we can do a little better."
Burns struck out 10 for the second consecutive start. Another positive for Burns was his confidence in his changeup, a pitch he has used only 14 times all season (4.7%).
Burns brought out the pitch in the fourth inning Tuesday night to strike out Luis García Jr. to end the inning. He used it only three more times in the start.
"Changeup felt really good,” Burns said. “It's a weapon that I have been working on, and I think that it could go a long way. I have the fastball, slider and the curveball. But having the changeup against a stacked lefty lineup like that could help a lot."
The pressure is on now for Cincinnati to not to get swept for the first time this season with the quick turnaround for Wednesday’s 12:05 p.m. ET finale.
Down 2-0 in the series, the Reds have not been swept in their first 32 series this season, which equals the longest run in club history. The 1970 Reds were swept in a two-game series by the Cubs in their 33rd series. Cincinnati is the only MLB team to not have been swept yet this season.