The Washington Nationals hit four home runs to sweep the Reds with a 6-5 win. It was the first opening series sweep since the first ever series at Great American Ball Park. The Pirates swept the Reds to open the 2003 season.
Sal Romano's first start got off to a flying stop.
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"I basically only had one pitch which was my sinker," Romano said. "It's not an excuse but I had a tough time gripping the ball. The last five innings I was able to get by with my sinker. I threw three or four in a row to Rendon in the perfect spot that I wanted to do it. All he could do was foul it off. I wanted to stay in there. I didn't want to speed up his bat with a curveball or change. I was trying to stay in and missed my location."
"Sal didn't have his breaking ball today," Bryan Price said. "He recovered from it well. He attacked the zone with a really hard sinker. I was really pleased with his first game against a nice ballclub."
It was important for Romano to learn how to pitch when he doesn't have his best stuff.
"Against a lineup like that, being able to go six innings with one pitch, is a bit of a confidence boost," Romano said. "We lost today. That's what is most important to me. I'll try to take the positives and go from there."
Romano settled in and kept the Reds in the game against Gio Gonzalez. The left-hander was coasting, allowing singles to Joey Votto and Scott Schebler, plus a two-out fourth inning double to the hot hitting Scooter Gennett.
Bryce Harper hit his first home run of the season off Romano, leading off the sixth inning to put the Nationals ahead, 3-0.
Romano completed six innings in what is considered a quality start, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks, one intentional. After a 30-plus pitch first inning, he was able to get deeper in the game.
The Reds broke the ice in the sixth. Eugenio Suarez walked and moved to second on Votto's ground out. Adam Duvall was credited with a double on a ball that got past Harper in right. It appeared Harper had a chance to make the catch but took his eye off the ball.
Newcomer Yovani Gallardo made his Reds' debut in the seventh inning. The Reds signed the veteran as a free agent after Milwaukee released him on March 25.
The Reds got two runs back in the eighth off Sammy Solis. Pinch hitter Phil Gosselin walked. Billy Hamilton's first hit of the season was a run-scoring double into the left field corner. Solis walked Suarez and hit Votto with a pitch. Washington manager Dave Martinez brought in Ryan Madson. Duvall hit into a 5-4-3 double play as Hamilton scored. Gennett flew out to Harper in right to end the threat.
"We have to keep getting guys on base and creating those opportunities and things will turn offensively, in taking advantage of runners in scoring position, coming up with the big hits," Price said.
The veteran Gosselin had two big at bats in the loss that gave the Reds a chance to win.
"I was a tough loss for sure," Gosselin conceded. "We did a pretty good job of hanging in against Gio. We were still in the mix at the end. There's a reason those guys (Nationals) are being picked by some people to win it all. That's who we want to beat. That's who we have to beat, if we want to go to the playoffs. We saw some good arms but it's a good measuring stick, showing us what we have to work on. We just went Scherzer, Strasburg and Gonzalez. I don't think we are going to see any better than those three guys the rest of the year. We'll be alright."
Raisel Iglesias returned after the birth of his first child, Oliver, in Miami on Thursday. Harper hit his second home run of the game above the visiting bullpen which is now in left center. It is Harper's 16th multi-home run game.
Sean Doolittle got a save in spite of hitting Schebler with a pitch and allowing Gosselin's first home run as a Red. He struck out Hamilton looking to complete the sweep.
The Reds defeated the Nationals 6-3 on June 14, 2016 but have lost all eight games played at Great American Ball Park since then.
"It's frustrating to lose. We want to make some big changes this year," Price said. "If you're 0-3 and you end up winning 90 games, nobody gives a darn that you start off 0-3. It's a long season. It's frustrating but not to the point where everyone will be down. We'll take on the Cubs tomorrow and get after it."
Before the game, Raisel Iglasias returned to the team after three-day paternity leave. Jackson Stephens was sent back to Louisville.
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