The Sports Xchange
Jul 15, 2017
CINCINNATI -- Anthony Rendon hit two home runs, including his second career grand slam, and drove in six runs to back Max Scherzer's six scoreless innings in the Washington Nationals' 10-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.
Rendon was on base five times with a single and two walks for the Nationals (54-36). It was his third career multi-homer game.
The Nationals defeated the Reds (39-51) for the fourth time in five games.
Scherzer (10-5) escaped early jams but struck out 10 to extend his National League-leading strikeout total to 183. He allowed three hits and four walks in his first start after the All-Star break.
Losing pitcher Luis Castillo (1-2), who picked up his first career win in his last start, worked six innings, allowing three runs, three hits and four walks.
The Nationals broke the game open with a seven-run seventh inning against Michael Lorenzen (six runs) and Blake Wood, who was greeted by Rendon's grand slam.
Ryan Raburn, who spent spring training with Cincinnati, led off the inning with his second home run since coming to the Nationals in a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox on May 26.
The Reds scored five runs in the ninth against Trevor Gott. Three runs crossed on Scooter Gennett's 16th home run of the season.
Matt Grace entered after the Nationals' lead was cut to three with no outs and retired three straight batters for his second save.
Washington's Bryce Harper extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a one-out single in the fourth inning. Daniel Murphy, the All-Star second baseman, doubled to the gap in left center with two outs to score Harper. Rendon followed with a homer to give Washington a 3-0 lead.
The Reds put the leadoff man on base in each of the first three innings against Scherzer.
Billy Hamilton hit a ground-rule double in the bottom of the first. Zack Cozart walked, but Scherzer struck out Joey Votto, Adam Duvall and Gennett.
Hamilton singled and stole his 39th base of the season in the third, but Scherzer fanned Votto looking on a 3-2 pitch. After Duvall popped to short, Gennett was Scherzer's eighth strikeout victim.
The Reds had a baserunner in each of the first five innings but failed to score against Scherzer, who struck out 10 to log his 12th game with double-digit strikeouts.
NOTES: RHP Joe Ross will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas. Ross was placed on the the disabled list. ... Nationals OF Jayson Werth had a long meeting with manager Dusty Baker on Saturday afternoon. Werth has been on the 10-day disabled list since June 4. :He is doing what he can to stay in shape," Dusty Baker said. "He's a worker." Werth has been shut down from baseball activities for the time being. ... Reds C Devin Mesoraco was took batting practice on Friday and was scheduled to catch a bullpen before the game. "We didn't have anyone who needed to throw a bullpen," Bryan Price said. "We got an OK to let him warm up our pitchers who are coming into the game."