Washington Home Runs Seal Sweep

http://donatelifeohio.org/

Scott Feldman was pushed back to the fourth game from the All-Star break with achy knees.  He added wounded pride to his pain.

The Washington Nationals, already victors in the season series and top dog of the NL Eastern Division, jumped on Feldman without mercy in season sweeping 6-1 win over the Reds.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

"The clubbed us this series," Bryan Price said.  "We had some close games in Washington but their starters didn't give us any thing this series.  We got close in the 10-7 game when we got into their young bullpen but that was all."

Before the crowd distributed the pop and peanuts among themselves Washington was four points up in the polls.

Brian Goodwin doubled.  Stephen Drew’s single sent Goodwin to third.  Bryce Harper hit his 23rd home run off Feldman, his third of the season.  Ryan Zimmerman, fresh from a day off, broke a 1-for-10 slump with his 20th home run.

The Nationals weren’t finished. Daniel Murphy walked and moved up one base on Anthony Rendon’s bloop single.  Matt Wieters hit a fly over the head of rightfielder Scooter Gennett.  The utility player had to leave his feet to make the catch stretched out toward centerfield.  Murphy took advantage of the sprawl and easily scored from secondbase.

Feldman has been dealing with a sore knee most of the season.  Today, it would not allow him to finish.

"I went out to talk to him after Zimmerman's home run.  We have good communication," Price said.  "He deserved a chance to finish the inning but it was apparent that he shouldn't go back out there."

The knee will likely get rest and Price alluded to a stint on the disabled list.  The Reds front office was there to talk about options.

"I could never really get over the hump today," Feldman said.  "Not only was I making bad pitches, they were coming in eight miles an hour slower than normal. It was one of those days it wasn't cooperate. I feel I can go out and get people out but it's tough to do when you're not feeling to good."

Stephen Strasburg allowed a singles to Jose Peraza, Joey Votto, Scott Schebler  and Eugenio Suarez’ s 13th home run in seven innings while striking out 11.

Asher Wojciehowski relieved Feldman in the second inning.

Wojciehowski saved wear and tear on the bullpen by spinning five innings, marred only by Goodwin’s eighth home run in the sixth.

"Wojo came in and did a nice job,' Feldman said.