Harper’s hit keeps Reds on skids
WASHINGTON — The Cincinnati Reds started well enough to earn a rare victory amid a troublesome slide, but by the end of the night had lost for the 12th time in 13 games.
Bryce Harper singled in the winning run in the 10th inning and Brian Goodwin homered twice for the Washington Nationals, who rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Reds on Friday.
Early on, Cincinnati dominated.
The Reds batted around in a four-run first inning that featured Scooter Gennett’s 10th home run, a run-scoring fly ball by Scott Schebler and successive RBI singles from Devin Mesorasco and Jose Peraza.
Goodwin homered in the bottom half, but Mesoraco singled in a run in the third to make it 5-1.
Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy also homered for the Nationals, who tied it at 5 in the seventh on Goodwin’s second homer.
Trea Turner singled off Raisel Iglesias (2-2) with one out in the 10th and took third on a single by Goodwin before Harper hit a liner that struck the rightfield wall on one bounce.
Matt Albers (3-1) pitched the 10th to cap an impressive night for the Nationals’ bullpen, a maligned group that blanked the Reds on one hit over the final five innings.
Reds starter Luis Castillo pitched five effective innings in his major league debut and left with a 5-2 lead. He allowed two runs and five hits, walking five and striking out five.
The 24-year-old rookie was replaced by Michael Lorenzen, who promptly served up a home run to Murphy and gave up a sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Stephen Drew later in the sixth.
Wandy Peralta took over in the seventh and, like Lorenzen, gave up a homer to the first batter he faced. Goodwin’s drive to right made it 5-all.
Finnegan set for return
Brandon Finnegan could be ready to rejoin the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation as early as Monday, manager Bryan Price said Friday.
Finnegan made his third rehab appearance Wednesday, throwing 71 pitches in five innings for triple- A Louisville. He had been on the disabled list since April 16 because of a left shoulder injury. The Reds need that spot in the rotation after optioning left- hander Amir Garrett to Louisville on Friday to make room for Castillo.