Dateline: Cincinnati
Chase Burns, Spencer Steer and JJ Bleday drained the Washington Nationals who had corrupted the series with the Reds in a 15-1 landslide, avoiding a sweep.
On paper this looked like a pitchers duel Burns and Foster Griffin both had 4-1 records coming into the game. Their ERA's were 2.11 and 2.12 respectively.
While Burns maintained his stats. Griffin was last seen walking off the mound following a pitch that Bleday hit for a three-run home run.
Steer scored three times. Bleday drove in six runs.
Spencer Steer singled off Foster Griffin to open the second inning. After hitting .190 in his first 18 games, Steer has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games. Matt Mclain hit his fourth home run of the season to get the scoring started with two outs.
"That was a big boy territory right there. When he hits it like he can, that ball goes," Terry Francona said of McLain's blast. "This week has been better for him."
The Reds posted four runs in the fourth inning. Steer singled for the second with one out. With two out, Blake Dunn and McLain walked to load the bases. Two player hitting under .200 delivered key hits. Jose Trevino hit a hard ground ball up middle for a two-run single. Ke'Bryan Hayes lined a double into the left field corner that allowed McLain and Trevino to score and build a 6-0 for Burns to protect.
Burns retired the first seven hitters in the game, three by strikeout. Jorbit Vivas doubled for the first Nationals hit but Burns struck out nine-hole hitter, Drew Milas. Burns walked Luis Garcia Jr. to open the fourth but picked him off to end the inning.
"They made him work a little bit," Terry Francona said. "When he needs to reach back with runners on. He speeds them up with the fastball and then he spins it so well. It's a good combination."
The Reds committed three error with two outs. Nasim Nunez reached on Burns error as he dropped the ball on a routine first baseman to pitcher play. Nunez stole second and continued to third on Trevino's throwing error. Trevino picked up another error for catcher's interference to allow Vivas to reach base. Milas grounded out and no harm was done.
"The inning where he didn't handle the ball, probably cost him an inning because he threw 15 pitches after that," Francona said.
Elly De La Cruz laced a double to left off Griffen to start the fifth. Stewart flied out but Steer walked and Bleday launched Griffen's last pitch into the right field bleachers for his fifth home run and a 9-0 lead.
"It was nice to see the guys swing the bat," Francona said. "We needed a game like this. It was everybody."
Burns allowed his second double hit by Garcia and second walk of the game to Abrams but Jacob Young flied out on a diving catch by Dane Myers in center.
Burns tossed six scoreless innings on two hits and two walks. He struck out seven. Burns allowed one run in his last 19 innings, dropping his ERA to 1.87.
"I think getting ahead made me effective," Burns said. "Every time I go our there, I have a plan. I just try to go out there and do my job. After every inning I talk to DJ about what I did right and what I did wrong. Trevino and I have gotten really close this past year. He trusts me and I trust him."
Bleday made Zak Kent his next victim launching his sixth home run of the season with De La Cruz on base via his second hit of the game a single.
Bleday turned in the third multi-home run game of his career. Cruz has two hits or more in his last six games building his batting average to .299. Bleday improved to .321 with a single in the four run eighth, feasting off Joe Wiemer, an outfielder trying to save a bullpen arm for Washington.
"It is a breath of fresh air, coming in here, playing for this organization," said Bleday, the fourth player chosen in the 2019 draft out of Vanderbilt University by the Miami Marlins. "Coming into spring training I felt good. I got sent down in spring but I still felt I was in a good spot mentally and physically. I just kept on rolling. I took advantage of playing every day. I worked on my spring. There is always room for improvement."
On the at bat in which he hit his second home run, the Reds already led, 9-0. The RBI single in the last at bat might have an asterisk because it was against a position player but Bleday dug in.
"The challenges, regardless of the score, you have to be selfish with that stuff. I was trying to grind through at bat and he made a mistake and I put a good swing on it," Bleday said. "The last one, it's late in the game, you just got to be ready to swing. You would love to hit three home runs. I get that, especially off a position player but regardless of the situation, you.ve got to be ready to swing."
Two struggling players, McLain and Hayes had hits in the cosmetic eighth off Wiemer. Myers hit a three-run home run, his second of the season. Will Benson got an at bat and singled. Bleday dumped a single into right to cap his day.
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