Hellickson and Reynolds haunt former team in Nats' 3-2 win

BALTIMORE - The Nationals edged the Orioles 3-2 thanks to an impressive homecoming for former Orioles Jeremy Hellickson and Mark Reynolds.

Hellickson (2-0) allowed two runs over five innings and Reynolds slammed his sixth homer of the season as the Nats ran their record on the road o 18-8.

The 31-22 overall record now challenges for the top spot in the National League East.

Hellickson went 2-6 with a 6.97 ERA over 10 starts for the Orioles in 2017. Reynolds fared better, hitting 60 homers in Baltimore in 2011 and 2012.

It was not a good end of the season for Hellickson last year. On this night, he made a better lasting memory with a solid pitching start.

Hellickson allowed a solo shot by Manny Machado in the first inning. He also took advantage of a pair of double plays behind him by his defense to head into the fifth with the lead 3-1.

With one out, Hellickson hit Chance Sisco with a pitch. Jace Peterson singled to put two men on. With two outs, Adam Jones doubled to left center to score Sisco. But Juan Soto's relay to Trea Turner and on to Pedro Severino, who tagged out Peterson at the plate, ended the inning.

He finished with 81 pitches, 48 for strikes, earning his second win for the Nationals. That matched his win total with the Orioles in 10 overall starts last season, after being traded to Baltimore from Philadelphia.

"I just have a little extra motivation, just the way the whole offseason played out," Hellickson said. "But I don't have anyone to blame here but myself for what happened. I would like to have pitched a little better for them the last two months of last year after trading for me, but I didn't, so it's something you just have to forget about and move on. But I enjoyed my time with them. It's a good clubhouse. But no, there wasn't any extra for these guys."

Reynolds solo shot arrived in the fourth off of Dylan Bundy, who had surrendered a first inning homer to Bryce Harper. Harper's 17th homer came on the third pitch of the game. Reynolds' blast made it 3-1 Nats.

Reynolds had fonder memories of batting at Oriole Park. In 2011 and 2012, he pounded out 219 hits and 155 RBIs for Baltimore. He now has 31 homers at Camden Yards, fourth as the opponent.

"I've played a few games here," Reynolds smiled. "I love playing here. It's a great place to hit. Good atmosphere, beautiful yard. Had a lot of games under my belt here and I miss playing here."

Not the same memory that Hellickson had at Camden Yards. In 2017, he posted a 1-2 record with a 7.30 ERA in 24 2/3 innings over five starts in Baltimore. He gave up seven homers here. Tuesday night started off with Manny Machado's homer to tied the game at 1-1 in the first.

"Just get the next guy," said Hellickson of his mentality after the Machado homer. "I mean, there's not too many parks that are worse to pitch in than this one. I thought I got away from it, but Manny is one of the best players in our game. He's going to do that to a lot of guys, so you just have to move on and get the next guy."

Now Hellickson has changed the story of his recent past with a streak of two runs or less allowed in seven of his eight starts with the Nationals. But the biggest motivation for him right now is playing for a team that is at the top or close to the top of it's division.

"It feels good," Hellickson said. "I just want to get to a team that was gonna win, and that's all that really mattered to me. I'm just doing what I can to help. I just want to get back to the playoffs. Doing everything I can to do that."

Reynolds certainly loves being with his new team, and he is on one of the better power streaks of his career. The first baseman has six homers in 12 games for the Nats. Reynolds has also hit safely in seven of his last nine games, hitting .406 (13-for-32).

"Get in these grooves sometimes," Reynolds said of his hot streak. "I got a base hit to right field tonight. You get in these things where you hit the ball and find holes. Can't really explain, if you could everybody would do it. Right now, I don't want to think about it too much just want to keep swinging it, making good contact and see where it goes."