Photo by Marideth Sandler/TalkNats

Well, I’m starting to think there really is something to the theory that there’s some sort of conspiracy out there to keep the Nats from getting back to .500. I mentioned this last weekend, but it seems like, going back to last season, the Nationals save their worst outcomes for the games where a win would get them back to or very close to .500. Today was more of the same. A buzz saw named Chase Burns set the tone for the Reds, as he absolutely mowed through the Washington order this afternoon, and received plenty of run support from his offense in the blowout win.

The Action

This one got off to a really hot start for both pitchers, as we saw a combined five strikeouts in the first inning. Chase Burns struck out two of the three batters he faced to start the game, and then Foster Griffin one-upped him by striking out the side in order in the bottom half of the first.

The onslaught began in the bottom of the second inning for the Reds. After the Nats went down in order again. Matt McLain came up with two outs in the inning and wasted no time, blasting a first-pitch cutter over the center field fence, scoring Spencer Steer to make it 2-0 Cincinnati early.

Washington at least got their first hit of the afternoon in the third, on a double by Jorbit Vivas, but unfortunately, nothing came out of it. The 2-0 score held until the bottom of the fourth, when the Reds really started to jump on Foster Griffin. After a single and a couple of walks, Jose Trevino drove in two with an RBI single, and then Ke’Bryan Hayes really broke it open with a two-run double, making it all of a sudden a 6-0 ballgame.

Blake Butera elected to leave Griffin in the game for the bottom of the fifth inning, presumably just to eat up some innings. That did not go quite as planned. After an Elly De La Cruz leadoff double and a walk, the stage was set for JJ Bleday, who attacked a cutter and mashed it into the right field stands for a three-run shot, boosting the Cincinnati lead to 9-0. That would be the end of the day for Griffin, and Zak Kent was brought on to get the final two outs of the inning.

The Nats threatened in the sixth, putting men on first and second with two outs, but Jacob Young was robbed of a bid for an RBI hit by a diving Dane Myers in center field. That catch would be the end of the day for Chase Burns, closing with a much different stat line from what Foster Griffin’s ended up being today.

• Foster Griffin: 4.1 innings, 7 hits, 9 runs (9 earned), 3 walks, 7 strikeouts, 92 pitches
• Chase Burns: 6 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, 95 pitches

The bullpens settled the game down pretty well until the seventh inning. As Zak Kent was making a bid for a 2.2 inning scoreless relief outing, JJ Bleday jumped out of the weeds and, for the second consecutive at-bat, went yard to right field, scoring two more runs.

The Nats finally got on the board in the top of the eighth, scoring on a wild pitch by Luis Mey. But nevertheless, if we’re looking for positives from this one, Drew Millas crossing the plate in the eighth kept the Reds from tossing a shutout. On a day like today, that’s a win. The Nats waved the white flag in the ninth, giving Joey Weimer his second pitching appearance of the season, and it went about how you’d imagine. Dane Myers tacked on three more runs with a three-run homer, and then Bleday continued his mammoth game by adding an RBI single to give us a 15-1 score, and what would be our final tally.

The Positives

Outside of individual accolades or stat lines, my biggest point for this section this afternoon is that the Nationals still won the series. Whether the score is 1-0 or 100-0, they all just count as one game, and that’s exactly what we remind ourselves of today.

As far as individual stat lines go, Luis Garcia can get today’s shoutout, as he reached base in three of his four at-bats this afternoon, adding a double and two walks to what was a very impressive series from him. Zak Kent also did a stellar job of slowing down the Reds’ offense, as he was one pitch shy of giving the Nationals eight scoreless outs.

What’s Next?

The Nationals will fly home tonight, where they will get set to open up a three-game series in DC against the Orioles this weekend, as part of MLB’s ‘Rivalry Weekend.’ Tomorrow night, we’re in for a pitching matchup between two ex-Rays arms, both of whom have not had the start to the 2026 season that I’m sure they’d have liked. Shane Baz (1-4, 5.48 ERA) will take the mound for the Orioles, freshly acquired this offseason in a trade with Tampa Bay, and he’ll be opposed by Zack Littell (1-4, 6.94 ERA). This will be a big series for the Nats in terms of getting to test this new coaching staff and young core against the other promising young team in the DMV, and with the Nationals finally finding some success at home last week, let’s see if they can continue it.

Down on the Farm

AAA Rochester

• 6:05 game tonight versus Lehigh Valley

AA Harrisburg

• Doubleheader tonight at Altoona, first game begins at 5:00

High-A Wilmington

• 6:30 game tonight at Winston Salem

Low-A Fredericksburg

• 6:35 game tonight versus Salem