Reds hang on to beat Nationals

WASHINGTON — The Reds aren't having a good year by any measure.

But something about playing the Washington Nationals, arguably the best team in baseball on paper, brings out the best in the team.

The Reds beat the Nationals 3-2 Monday night before a crowd of 23,673 at Nationals Park. Eugenio Suarez's solo home run in the eighth was the difference in the game.

Box score:Reds 3, Nationals 2

The Reds are 4-0 against the Nationals this year.

"It's nice," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We just got swept at home, which is never a good feeling. You're always chasing your next win. It didn't matter that it was against the Nationals or any other team. It was good to win and play a good, solid game."

Suarez had his best game as a Red, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.

"He's been a run-producer, not just getting hits but getting timely hits," Price said. "He's shown a little bit of power. That was the big one there, getting us a lead. There's nothing like taking a lead in the late innings."

Suarez was obtained in the Alfredo Simon trade from Detroit. He's only been with the big league club because of Zack Cozart's injury and is hitting .329.

"I feel very good right now," Suarez said. "I'm excited because I help my team. Also, we got a win."

Rookie right-hander Anthony DeSclafani had a nice bounce-back start. He went 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked four and struck out six.

"He gutted it out," Price said. "He had a little bit of stiffness in his glute. He really had to back off and not be quite as aggressive with his stuff."

DeSclafani gave up six runs on 11 hits in an 8-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins his last time out. He threw a career-high 122 pitches in that game.

Monday's game was delayed 29 minutes in the first inning by rain.

The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the second. Brayan Pena got things started with a soft come-backer that pitcher Doug Fister threw away for a two-base error.

Suarez followed with a ground ball against the shift. Second baseman Danny Espinosa made a diving stop, but first baseman Clint Robinson was off the bag when Espinosa threw to him. It was scored a single.

DeSclafani was sent up to bunt. When he bunted through a pitch, Suarez was caught off the bag and thrown out easily.

DeSclafani doubled on the next pitch to get Pena in.

"I don't think he meant to throw it there," DeSclafani said. "I ran into it. That's the first ball I pulled all year."

DeSclafani didn't allow a hit until Matt den Dekker singled with two outs in the third. Yunel Escobar reached on a slow roller that Todd Frazier tried to bare-hand but couldn't come up with.

Bryce Harper then walked to load the bases. Den Dekker scored on a wild pitch with Wilson Ramos at the plate.

Marlon Byrd led off the sixth with a drive to right. It was originally scored a double. After meeting briefly on the field, however, the umpires ruled it a home run – then the umpires decided to do a crew chief review. After that review, it was ruled a double.

An out later, however, Suarez got Byrd in with a single to left.

The Nationals tied it in the bottom of the sixth. Espinosa hit a 2-1 pitch way out to right for his ninth home run of the year. After Ian Desmond singled and Michael Taylor walked, DeSclafani was done.

Ryan Mattheus came on and got pinch-hitter Tyler Moore to fly to right on the first pitch.

Suarez hit an 0-2 pitch into left field that just stayed fair.

"My first reaction was I didn't hit it well," he said. "God helped me on that ball. I got a home run."

Manny Parra pitched the seventh, and J.J. Hoover pitched a perfect eighth. Aroldis Chapman, named to the All-Star team earlier in the day, pitched the ninth for his 17th save.