A Tough Day in D.C.
Well, Reds fans, it wasn't the outing we hoped for today as our boys took on the Nationals in Washington. The final score was 1-6, and while the bats were active early on, we just couldn't find our rhythm to pull off the win. Let's break down the game inning by inning.Early Opportunities
The game started on a promising note as Matt McLain singled to center in the first, but unfortunately, a double play ended any chances of an early lead. After a quiet first inning, Gavin Lux reached on an infield single in the second and was soon followed with another single by Tyler Stephenson. However, the inning closed without a score as Jake Fraley fouled out. It wasn't until the 4th inning that Elly De La Cruz doubled to right field, setting the stage for Gavin Lux to single him home, giving us our lone run.Nationals Take the Lead
By the bottom of the 4th, the Nationals leveled the game at 1-1 with a homer by Josh Bell. Our defense held strong until the 5th inning when the Nationals scored twice, pushing the scoreboard to 3-1 with doubles from Jacob Young and CJ Abrams. Despite the efforts of our pitchers, we struggled to stem the tide.Frustrating Finish
The 6th inning brought more challenges as a mishap in right field by Jake Fraley allowed three Nationals to cross the plate, raising their lead to 6-1. The Reds fought back with Gavin Lux consistently performing well, securing a few singles throughout the game, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. We had a glimmer of hope in the 8th with some singles by TJ Friedl and Matt McLain, but it was a case of "too little, too late."Looking Forward
Despite the loss today, let's keep our hopes high, Reds fans. There are plenty more games and opportunities to turn this around.
Our team has shown flashes of brilliance—let's rally and keep supporting them as we move forward in the season. Go Reds! 
Scoreboard for Reds @ Nationals (July 22nd, 2025)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 |