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In
a masterful performance, Cincinnati Reds rookie Tony
Cingrani fanned 11 Washington
Nationals in the series finale at
Washington Sunday. Photo by reds.com
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Dominant Cingrani in top form as Reds take
finale
reds.com
WASHINGTON -- Reds rookie pitcher Tony Cingrani had one of those days
where everything just seemed to work perfectly for him.
Cingrani set a career high with 11 strikeouts, including four in an
inning, and the Reds avoided a four-game sweep with a 5-2 victory over
the Nationals on Sunday.
Cingrani, who was making just his third Major League start, threw six
scoreless innings and gave up just two hits with one walk, improving to
2-0 on the season. He is the first Reds rookie with double-digit
strikeouts since Johnny Cueto in 2008. He also got his first career hit
with a single in the second.
"I just threw fastballs and some curve balls in there and I just got
ahead of them," said Cingrani, who also threw a season-high 110
pitches. "I bared down and got them out. That's what you got to do."
In the fourth inning, Cingrani became the fifth Reds pitcher to strike
out four batters in an inning when he sat down Denard Span, who reached
first base when the ball got by catcher Corky Miller, and then Bryce
Harper, Ian Desmond and Adam LaRoche.
The Nationals' Ross Detwiler was not as effective, allowing four runs
(three earned) on 11 hits with three strikeouts and one walk in five
innings.
The Reds won for just the second time on the road this season. They
also snapped an eight-game losing streak away from the Great American
Ball Park. In addition, Cincinnati avoided its first four-game sweep
since 1989 against the Nationals, who were still playing in Montreal at
that time.
Reds manager Dusty Baker hopes to carry some momentum heading into the
next series against the Cardinals.
"It was just nice to get a win, period, especially on the road where
we've been struggling some," Baker said. "We always talk about get-away
day victories because they can stop a sweep, create a sweep or it's
usually a rubber-match game. It's big for us going into St. Louis."
The Reds' bats came alive early when Zach Cozart singled and Joey Votto
doubled in the first inning. Both players then scored on a single by
Brandon Phillips, who took over the National League lead with 24 RBIs.
Detwiler had to throw 35 pitches just to get out of the opening inning.
"That's what's going to happen when Det's not really sharp," Nationals
manager Davey Johnson said. "But he battled. He gave us five innings
and kept us in the ballgame. There are times like that when he needs to
use his whole arsenal. You've got to tip your cap to the other guy. He
threw a good ballgame."
The Reds loaded the bases with one out in the third and increased the
lead to 3-0 on a single by Votto. The threat ended when Phillips lined
into a double play. As Cingrani continued to stay ahead of the hitters,
the Reds added another run in the fourth when Cozart beat out a
grounder to third with two outs that scored Miller.
Cingrani did not allow a baserunner until the fourth when Span struck
out, but reached first base when the ball got by Miller. After Harper
struck out, the Nationals loaded the bases. But Cingrani struck out
Desmond and LaRoche to get out of the inning and secure the rare feat.
"He's a guy who can attack the zone from the get-go," Miller said. "He
got into that jam and he got out of it. That's what I've seen so far
this year is that if he gets in that jam, he's not giving in. He gets
fired up. If he can pound the zone more often, he can get into the
seventh, eighth and ninth."
The Nationals threatened in the fifth when left fielder Xavier Paul
could not hold onto a sinking liner by Span. However, Paul recovered
and fired the ball to shortstop Cozart, who then threw out Anthony
Rendon at the plate.
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