Two-out knocks put Nats on top (walk-off grand slam sinks Nats)

In the six games between the Nationals and Reds this season prior to today, Joey Votto had just one extra-base hit - a double back on April 15. Today, Votto has two home runs in as many at-bats. The 2010 National Leauge MVP has taken Edwin Jackson yard twice, but luckily for Jackson and the Nats, both longballs have been solo shots. Outside of Votto, the Reds haven't done all that much off Jackson, who allowed just three hits through four innings. The Nats lead the Reds 4-2 as we go to the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to some two-out magic in the top-half of the fifth. After Roger Bernadina and Ryan Zimmerman were retired to start the inning, Adam LaRoche dropped a double down the line in left and then Bryce Harper reached on an infield single to short. Danny Espinosa followed with a big double to right, plating both LaRoche and Harper to give Washington the lead. Espinosa was thrown out at home two batters later when he tried to score on a Jesus Flores single to left, but still, the Nats have to be thrilled they're starting to see their second baseman put things together at the plate. They'd also be thrilled if Votto just decided to take the rest of the game off and go grab a nap at home. Update: Jackson allowed one run in the bottom of the fifth, but he did a nice job of minimizing the damage considering the Reds had runners at second and third with no one out just two batters into the inning. Update II: Unbelievable. Henry Rodriguez surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Joey Votto with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Reds a 9-6 win and spoiling the Nats' shot at a sweep. The homer was Votto's third of the game. Not quite Josh Hamilton-impressive, but close. The loss knocks the Nats from first place in the NL East and will make the flight back to Washington seem a whole lot longer.