Bats keep pressure on Harvey early (Nats win 6-2)

The Reds jumped on top in the first, thanks to a leadoff homer by José Peraza. His sixth homer of the season came on an 0-1 pitch.

Jeremy Hellickson then got out of the rest of the inning and went onto hold the Reds scoreless the next two frames.

Against Matt Harvey, the Nationals scored a run on two hits in each of their first two innings.

In the first, Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon contributed back-to-back doubles to get the Nats on the board.

In the second, the Nats took their first lead of the game on a Michael A. Taylor bunt single, a one-out sacrifice bunt by Hellickson and an RBI single from Wilmer Difo.

In the third, Difo made a spectacular diving scoop and flip to first baseman Matt Adams to prevent a base hit for the speedster Billy Hamilton.

In the bottom of the third, the Nats continued to like what they saw from Harvey's pitches.

Soto and Rendon singled. Adams laced a double down the right field line that scored Soto.

After three innings, the Nats lead the Reds 3-1.

Update: The Reds crept closer thanks to a monster blast over the left field wall by third baseman Eugenio Suárez in the top of the fourth. His 26th homer of the season cut the Nats lead to one.

Mid-fourth, the Nats lead 3-2 over the Reds.

Update II: In the fourth after a two-out walk to Soto, Rendon lined a doubled deep to left-center field. Soto lost his batting helmet racing around second base and scored.

After four innings, the Nats lead 4-2 over the Reds.

Update III: Adams solo shot led off the fifth. That sent Harvey to the showers. It was Adams' 18th homer of the season. Difo added a RBI double later, scoring Spencer Kieboom, who had walked. Difo has two hits and two RBIs.

After five innings, the Nats have opened up a 6-2 lead.

Update IV: Hellickson again did his job, finishing 5 2/3 innings, allowing only four hits, two runs, no walks and striking out three. He fired only 71 pitches, 49 for strikes. Matt Grace came in and recorded the final out to end the sixth.

Mid-sixth, the Nats lead the Reds 6-2.

Update V: Some bad blood brewing. Bryce Harper was hit by a pitch from Austin Brice in the sixth and had to leave for Adam Eaton on defense in the seventh. Joey Votto was hit by a pitch in the eighth by Ryan Madson and appeared to yell "really?!" to the Nats dugout as he walked to first base. After the inning was over he waved off the Nats dugout. Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher warned both benches.

After eight innings, the Nats lead 6-2.

Update VI: Kelvin Herrera recorded three outs in the ninth.

Final score: the Nats 6, the Reds 2.

The Nats split the doubleheader and improve to 56-54.