Suarez’s homer breaks deadlock, Reds beat Nationals 3

“For me, there’s some inconsistency there on the mound”, the right-hander said. “I didn’t hit it well”. Two batters later, Suarez drove in his first run of the game with an RBI single to score Byrd and give the Reds a 2-1 advantage. But on an 0-2 pitch to Suarez, the veteran righty hung a curveball center cut and Suarez deposited it just inside the left field foul pole and just over the fence to put the Reds up 3-2. Recalled from the minors on June 11 after an injury sidelined starting shortstop Zack Cozart, Suarez is batting.

“That was just A-grade stuff”, manager Bryan Price said. “That was a big one there”. The Washington Nationals have won six of their last eight home games.

“People out there, fans know who I am and they know what I do”, Cueto said.

“He hides the ball well… he’ll turn his back to the hitter and hides it really well, he’s got great offspeed pitches and can throw any of them for strikes at any time”.

Nationals: CF Denard Span (back spasms) and 2B Yunel Escobar (hamstring strain) were both held out of the game.

An error on Ian Desmond, his NL leading 19th miscue, kept the fourth inning alive for Cincinnati and DeSclafani managed to draw a walk on a 3-2 count to load the bases. His first at-bat was a long drive high off the right center field wall for a double. In the opener, Paulo Orlando hit his first career grand slam in the ninth inning off All-Star closer Brad Boxberger.

Washington Nationals left fielder Matt den Dekker can’t catch the… He entered in the top half for Span. He has six homers in five games against the White Sox this season.

NEXT GAME: Tuesday at 7:05 pm against the Reds.

Paulo Orlando hit a walk-off, ninth-inning grand slam in the day game as the Royals won 9-5.

DENVER | All-Stars Albert Pujols and Mike Trout hit two of Los Angeles’ four home runs and the Angels routed Colorado.

Toronto’s Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run in the third inning for what turned out to be the winning run.

John Lackey threw seven scoreless innings and St. Louis beat Chicago despite Jon Lester taking a no-hitter into the seventh. He finished only 4 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.

Two more scored in the fifth with Votto driving in a run with a single and Todd Frazier connecting for an RBI sac fly that made it 5-0.

The Reds wasted no time getting on the board. He turned more deliberate than normal in the first inning, trying to find his command.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Brian Dozier hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift Minnesota to the victory.

Williams replaced Scherzer with Taylor Jordan, who provided 3/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing only two hits and saving the Nationals’ bullpen. Earlier in the day, Dozier was selected as one of the five candidates for the final roster spot on the AL All-Star team.

But a pair of quick outs foiled the rally, and at the end of one inning, Reds still led 2-0. The Cincinnati Reds have split their last eight road games.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Washington. The left-hander allowed three runs and nine hits.

Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto (19) celebrates his solo home run… Pierzynski homered among his three hits, Manny Banuelos earned his first major league win and Atlanta beat Milwaukee. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out four in the effort. He beat the Nationals 8-2 on May 31.

Tampa Bay at Kansas City, ppd.