Washington, DC - Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run double in the fifth inning as the Washington Nationals downed the Cincinnati Reds, 6-3, in the opener of a three-game set at RFK Stadium.
Ryan Church went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and Nook Logan was 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Nationals, who have won four of their last six games.
Matt Chico (5-6) got the win as he gave up two runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings of work.
Edwin Encarnacion and Brandon Phillips each had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Reds, who have dropped their last three games.
Bobby Livingston (2-2) was handed the loss as he gave up five runs on eight hits in four-plus innings of work.
The Nationals were trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but took the lead with a five-run frame. The team put their first three batters on board to load the bases and Ronnie Belliard singled to bring home Logan. Zimmerman then had the big hit of the inning as he cleared the bases with a double to the right-center gap and chased Livingston from the game.
Todd Coffey then took over on the mound and got the next two batter out, but Church punched a single to right to score Zimmerman for a 5-2 lead.
The Reds got a run back in the sixth inning as Phillips’ RBI single scored Jeff Keppinger to make it a 5-3 game.
Washington padded its cushion in the seventh as Dmitri Young led off with a walk and, after Austin Kearns popped out and Jon Coutlangus took the mound in place of Coffey, Church smacked a double to deep center and Young came home for a 6-3 lead.
Luis Ayala worked a scoreless eighth inning while Chad Cordero threw a perfect ninth to pick up his 22nd save of the season.
The Reds grabbed a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. Adam Dunn punched a one-out double to center and Jeff Conine followed with a double to plate Dunn. Encarnacion then smacked a single to score Conine.
