Janssen's nightmare eighth costs Nats in 8-5 loss

The Nationals wasted no time pressuring Reds rookie Raisel Iglesias on Saturday. Yunel Escobar ripped a two-out double to left off the right-hander in the first. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a sharp line drive single to center, scoring Escobar for the game's first run.

The Reds tried to answer right back in the bottom of the inning. Nats starter Gio Gonzalez gave up back-to-back one-out singles to first baseman Joey Votto and third baseman Todd Frazier before walking right fielder Jay Bruce to load the bases. That brought Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty out for an early chat with Gonzalez.

Ian Desmond ended up bailing Gonzalez out when Reds catcher Brayan Pena lined a ball to Desmond, who doubled up Frazier at second to end the inning.

Update: Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton led off with a base knock in the third and then stole second. Two batters later, first baseman Joey Votto took Gonzalez deep to left-center. The two-run blast is Votto's second homer in as many days. Coming into this series, Votto was in a serious longball drought having not gone yard since April 28.

Update II: Danny Espinosa started the fifth with a single to center. After striking out Michael A. Taylor, Iglesias lost a slider and hit Gonzalez on the first pitch of the at-bat. Denard Span immediately made Iglesias pay with a base hit to left, plating Espinosa to even the game.

Gonzalez retired the side in the bottom of the inning. He has allowed two runs on five hits and one walk through five.

Update III: Clint Robinson, filling in for Bryce Harper in right field, delivered his second hit of the day with one out in the sixth. After Jose Lobaton flew out, Espinosa rifled a line drive to right to give the Nats runners at the corners with two outs. Taylor then launched a moonshot off the facade of the second deck at Great American Ball Park for a three-run homer.

Somehow, Iglesias managed to hit Gonzalez again moments later. This time it appeared far more serious as the 2-2 fastball ran away, striking Gonzalez in his left tricep. He remained in the game and came out for the bottom of the inning.

Gonzalez promptly walked Votto and then gave up a ground-rule double to third baseman Todd Frazier, leaving the Reds with runners at second and third with nobody out. A groundout by a Bruce scored Votto, and an RBI single from Pena cut the Nats' lead to one and ended Gonzalez's day after 5 1/3 innings.

Nationals manager Matt Williams opted for flamethrower Blake Treinen. After a steady assault of 98 mph fastballs, Treinen struck out left fielder Marlon Byrd and shortstop Zack Cozart on a pair of wicked sliders to end the threat.

Gonzalez allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts. He threw 99 pitches.

Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher tossed Escobar in the seventh for arguing a third strike call. Williams inserted Dan Uggla at second base and moved Espinosa to third.

Lefty Matt Thornton will start the bottom of the inning.

Update IV: After three scoreless appearances, right-hander Casey Janssen was roughed up today. Four Reds crossed the plate in the eighth with Cozart delivering the big blow with a two-run double. The nightmare frame for Janssen included four hits and two walks that led to the four runs.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman gave up consecutive walks to Span and Desmond in the ninth before striking out Uggla and Zimmerman to end the game.

The Reds beat the Nats 8-5.

The loss ends the Nats' series winning streak at nine.