Reds Back to .500 with a 6-3 Win Over Nationals

Three Reds sacrifice flies trumped three National home runs.  The Reds have lost 28 one-run games this season and would have sold their collective souls for a sacrifice fly in many of them.

"Hopefully, we are learning to pick runners up with less than two outs," Dusty Baker said.

Young Chris Marrero's nervousness aided the Reds cause.  Cincinnati dented the plate with a run in the first inning without a hit.  Marrero couldn't handle Brandon Phillips ground ball to open the bottom of the first. Dave Sappelt bunted Phillips to second.  Joey Votto's ground out got Phillips to third. A wild pitch from Washington starter, Ross Detwiler put the Reds in front.

Leake, who was pounded by the Nationals 12 days ago, gave up Wilson Ramos' second home run in as many days. Two outs later, Jayson Werth belted his 16th of the season to give Washington a brief lead.

The home team parlayed Marrero's second error into a 4-2 lead.  Phillips, who had hit in all 10 games in which he batted leadoff, singled. Sappelt followed with a single through the hole at shortstop.  Votto grounded to Marrero, who threw the ball into left field.  Phillips scored.  Jay Bruce walked.  Miguel Cairo and Drew Stubbs picked up runners with fly balls.

"They helped us out early," Baker said. "We took advantage of it."

The Reds added on.  Ryan Hanigan singled in the fourth.  Leake moved him up with a bunt.  Phillips hit a line drive to the corner but was thrown out at second by Michael Morse.

Cairo doubled.  Stubbs reached on an infield hit, moving Cairo to third. Edgar Renteria hit a sacrifice fly to plate Cairo.

Leake finished with six strong innings, allowing six hits and one walk.  He got a lot of ground ball outs.

"The last time I played them they hit too many fly balls and beat me up," Leake said.  "I made a couple of mistakes that they made me pay for.  They fouled a lot of balls off but I wasn't giving in to them."

Leake won for the 11th time extending his career high.

"He's mature and improving," Baker said. "He reads swings well.  He knows his strengths and weaknesses.  He pitches like a veteran which is why we brought him straight from college."

This time last year they shut Leake down for the year to save his arm.

Phillips went to Baker and asked him if he could lead off.

"I wanted to try something different," Phillips said.  "I felt comfortable batting leadoff last year.  I asked Dusty if we could do something that got us going last year.  When I hit cleanup I was trying to drive in runs.  Now I just want to get on for the big boys (Votto and Bruce)."

Phillips is 19-for-43 with a home run and 10 RBI in 10 games. The Reds are 7-3 in that span.

Francisco Cordero earned save number 29 with a routine ninth.  He has converted 10 straight save opportunities. He tied Todd Jones for 14th on the all-time list with 319.  He is two saves away from equaling countryman, Jose Mesa.