Gonzalez aims to prevent season sweep; Hill recalled (with lineups, game postponed)

By Josh Land

Nationals

July 08, 2015, 12:00pm

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Left-hander Gio Gonzalez takes the hill as the Nationals attempt to prevent a season sweep by the Reds. Gonzalez has pitched brilliantly his last two starts, allowing just one run over 14 innings with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

The Reds tagged Gonzalez for four runs over 5 1/3 innings in the Nationals' 8-5 loss back on May 30. The big blow came on a two-run homer from Reds first baseman Joey Votto in the third.

Votto has torched the Nats in the Reds' five wins this year. He's batting .450 (9-for-20) with three home runs and six RBIs.

The Nationals recalled right-hander Taylor Hill from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned righty Taylor Jordan back to Syracuse. Hill has appeared in six games for the Nats this season, yielding five runs across 12 innings.

Denard Span (back spasms) and Yunel Escobar (left hamstring tightness) are out of the lineup for the second straight night.

For the Nationals:

CF Michael A. Taylor
3B Danny Espinosa
RF Bryce Harper
1B Clint Robinson
C Jose Lobaton
SS Ian Desmond
2B Dan Uggla
LF Matt den Dekker
LHP Gio Gonzalez

For the Reds:

2B Brandon Phillips
1B Joey Votto
3B Todd Frazier
RF Jay Bruce
LF Marlon Byrd
SS Eugenio Suarez
C Tucker Barnhardt
RHP Michael Lorenzen
CF Billy Hamilton

Update: The start of tonight's game will be delayed due to inclement weather. No start time has been announced yet.

Update II: Reds-Nats has been postponed. Details to come.