Reds jump out quickly on Scherzer and Nats (Reds win 5-0, Cueto dominant)

The Reds got out quickly against the Nationals and Max Scherzer.

Brandon Phillips led off with a single in the top of the first and went to second thanks to a fielding misplay by Nationals second baseman Dan Uggla. Joey Votto followed with a run-scoring double, and the Reds led 1-0.

They added to the margin later on a Jay Bruce RBI triple off of the right center field scoreboard wall. Michael A. Taylor made a diving attempt at the catch but to no avail.

The inning could have been worse if not for Bruce getting tagged out at home plate following a Brayan Pena fielder's choice.

After a half inning, Reds led 2-0.

Update: The Nationals got two men on in the bottom of the first thanks to a fielding error by Reds first baseman Joey Votto that allowed Danny Espinosa to reach base and a bloop single to left by Bryce Harper.

But a pair of quick outs foiled the rally, and at the end of one inning, Reds still led 2-0.

Scherzer settled down in the top of the second with a 1-2-3 inning.

Update II: Votto is seeing Scherzer pretty good tonight. His first at-bat was a long drive high off the right center field wall for a double. Then in the third with one out, Votto crushed a Scherzer offering over the right field wall into the Nationals bullpen. It was his 15th homer of the season, and the Reds extended their lead 3-0.

Update III: The Nationals have not been able to take advantage of the few opportunities they have received early on against Johnny Cueto. In the bottom of the fourth, Harper walked and Wilson Ramos reached first on a fielding error by Todd Frazier.

But Clint Robinson grounded out to second base, and Ramos thought he was tagged out heading to second himself. Instead, he was tagged out heading back to first for the double play 4-3-6-3. The momentum of the two-on, nobody out chance for the Nationals was effectively extinguished. Dan Uggla flew out to right field to end the frame, and the Reds led 4-0 after four innings. So far, the Nationals only hit was the Harper single in the first inning.

Update IV: Votto having the night, adding a run-scoring single in the fifth. Then Frazier flew out to center field for a sacrifice fly RBI, and the Reds led 5-0.

Scherzer didn't make it out of the inning. He finished only 4 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. He allowed seven hits, five runs, all earned, no walks, one hit by pitch and struck out four. Scherzer threw 81 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Update VI: Cueto was dominant, tossing a complete two-hit shutout with a season-high 11 strikeouts and one walk. Ian Desmond had a triple and Harper the single, but that was it for the Nationals. Cueto tossed 122 pitches, 84 for strikes.

The Reds are 5-0 versus the Nationals this season.

Reds shutout the Nats 5-0.

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez will look to prevent a second straight series sweep to the Reds in Wednesday night's finale.