Duvall's eighth inning blast carries Reds over Nats 6-3
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Stephen Strasburg gave up Joey Votto's two-run homer and limped off the field a few pitches later, and the Cincinnati Reds overcame a pair of rain delays while rallying to beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Saturday for their fourth straight win.
Adam Duvall hit Shawn Kelley's fourth pitch for a tiebreaking three-run homer following a 64-minute rain delay in the bottom of the eighth, extending Cincinnati's best winning streak of the season.
The Nationals had won Strasburg's last 15 starts, which was the longest active streak in the major leagues. Now the NL East leaders have concerns about whether their ace will have to miss some time.
Strasburg has won his last 12 decisions and was holding a 2-1 lead when a cloudburst caused a 21-minute delay to the start of the sixth inning. Strasburg walked Zack Cozart to start the bottom of the inning, gave up Votto's homer, and grabbed his right calf on a pitch to Brandon Phillips. He left a few pitches later, limping slightly.
Jay Bruce also homered off Strasburg, who fanned 10 and became the first Nationals pitcher to strike out 1,000 in his career.
Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer off Reds starter Dan Straily, who gave up only two hits in seven innings. Danny Espinosa tied it with a solo shot in the eighth off Ross Ohlendorf (4-4).
The Reds got runners on first and third with two outs against Felipe Rivero (0-2) when rain prompted the second delay. One hour and 4 minutes later, Duvall connected off Kelley for his team-high 16th homer.
Tony Cingrani retired the side in the ninth for his fifth save in nine chances.
The Reds have won five of six with their offense finally coming around. They've scored 46 runs with 18 homers in those six games.
Strasburg was on pace to become the majors' first 10-game winner until the delay knocked him out of his rhythm. He fanned five Reds in a row over one stretch and allowed only two hits before the delay.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: 2B Trea Turner was on the bench as planned, but was used as a pinch runner. He was called up Friday, started against a left-hander and had three hits.
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey threw in the bullpen without problem. Bailey had to back off his rehab work last month because of soreness in his right elbow, which had Tommy John surgery 13 months ago.
UP NEXT
Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (4-4) has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last three starts.
Reds: RHP Jon Moscot (0-2) makes his second start since returning from soreness in his left shoulder. Last Tuesday, he gave up seven runs and four homers in two innings of a 17-4 loss in Colorado.
