Frazier’s two-run shot wins it

WASHINGTON — Todd Frazier’s two-run homer in the top of the 15th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in a game that ended at 12:04 this morning.

Brandon Phillips singled off Ross Detwiler (0-2) to open the inning and with one out, Frazier homered to center.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman had a chance to finish the game hours earlier, but wasn’t able to hold on for the win.

But then Manny Parra, J.J. Hoover and Logan Ondrusek (1-2) did what he couldn’t — finish off the Nationals.

It was harried at times — as the 12th and 14th innings were saved by diving catches by Brandon Phillips and Billy Hamilton, respectively, but in the end, the Reds got it done.

After 4 hours and 58 minutes of playing time, Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa, who started this extrainning madness with a double off Chapman in the top of the ninth, flied out to right field to finish the game.

Holding a 2-1 lead, Chapman came in for his third save chance of the season and gave up a double to Espinosa.

Espinosa went to third on a fly out by pinchhitter Kevin Fransen and then scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Scott Hairston to force extra innings.

Reds starter Mike Leake and the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg faced each other in a big-league game for the first time. The two both grew up in San Diego and were teammates as 11-yearolds.

Leake, who left with a 2-1 lead, saw the bullpen blow its third save in games he has left with the lead. He gave up a run and seven hits.

Strasburg went seven innings, allowing two runs and six hits.

Trailing 2-0, Washington finally got to Leake in the seventh. Nate McLouth singled with one out and took second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Denard Span singled to right, scoring McLouth and ending Leake’s night after 110 pitches.

The Reds used their legs to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Frazier was hit by a pitch with one out and went to third on Brayan Pena’s single. With Chris Heisey at the plate, catcher Wilson Ramos blocked a pitch by Strasburg in the dirt and Pena broke for second. Frazier dashed home when Ramos threw to second and second baseman Espinosa’s only play was on Pena, who was tagged out in a rundown.

The Reds made it 2-0 in the fifth. Zack Cozart was hit by a fastball by Strasburg and scored on backto-back singles by Hamilton and Skip Schumaker.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.