WASHINGTON -- Left-hander Nick Lodolo spun his second complete game of the season and first career shutout, while Jake Fraley and Noelvi Marte added RBI hits as the Reds halted a three-game skid with a 5-0 win over the Nationals in the series finale Wednesday afternoon at Nationals Park.
Lodolo was outstanding again, limiting the Nationals to four hits while striking out eight and walking none on 105 pitches, 76 for strikes. Over his last seven starts, he is 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA (9 earned runs, 43 2/3 innings pitched).
The left-hander dominated with his breaking pitches, striking out five of eight hitters with his curveball. His third-inning strikeout of Nationals catcher Drew Millas was impressive: All three four-seam fastballs hugged the top outer edge of the zone for strikes.
"I feel good,” Lodolo said. “I'm pitching consistently, which is definitely helping me. Last year, it was a couple starts here, [then] stop. That was definitely difficult. But being able to stay in rhythm, and keep going and making turns has definitely helped me."
The Nationals put some heat on Lodolo in the eighth. After a one-out double by Luis García, Jr., Lodolo struck out pinch-hitter Riley Adams and induced a Jacob Young ground ball to second baseman Matt McLain to end the threat.
"I thought he mixed speeds really well,” Young said. “I thought he had really good command of his off speed. You never know what you are looking for. He threw anything, any count, and they are all strikes. He kept it down mostly."
The Reds scored first on an RBI single from Fraley in the fourth inning. He added a sharp line drive single to right field in the eighth and came around to score on a Jose Trevino sac fly. Marte dropped in a run-scoring double as the Reds scored twice in the final two innings to pad the lead.
"I know the score ended up 5-0,” said manager Terry Francona. “That wasn't a 5-0 game. That was 1-0. [Lodolo] had to pitch through that for the majority of the game. I thought as the game went he got stronger which is a really good sign. [His] breaking ball has been a weapon. He holds his velocity the entire game. He threw strikes. He just really pitched a great game."
Fraley’s offense during the 3-3 road trip was critical, going 8-for-15 (.533) with three doubles, four RBI, one run, one walk and three strikeouts.
"I feel good,” Fraley said. “I am just putting my head down and going through this. It's nothing new. I've been dealing with the shoulder for four years now. The pain is something that I am used to with it.
“The cortisone shots have been doing a good job. The training staff and the strength staff have been doing a really good job of keeping me locked in with the shoulder stuff, making sure that cortisone lasts as long as it can. I might need another one mid-September. I've been feeling good and keep it rolling."
Fraley said he did not have much work in right field Wednesday thanks to Lodolo’s mix of pitches, especially the curveball.
"I never want to face that,” Fraley said. “I was surprised that they had as many lefties in there as they did today. That thing is devastating. I can't tell you how many times over the last three years that I have seen him throw those and guys swing through them and it drills them in the back foot. That's a special pitch."
The Reds improved to 53-50, remain 3 1/2 games behind the Padres in the NL Wild Card race, and are the only team in MLB not to have been swept this season, a span of 33 consecutive series, setting a club record. The 1970 Reds, who won the NL pennant, were swept in their 33rd series, 2-0, by the Cubs.
"I thought we needed a win,” Francona said. “I didn't care how. There wasn't a whole lot to show for it early, both teams. Some games feel like they are bigger than others, they're not, but they feel like it. I'm glad we won today. That's what we came for."