Strasburg struggles in first (Nats win 6-5 in 10)

A hot and humid night and the Reds did not agree with Stephen Strasburg in the top of the first.

Cincinnati had no trouble finding a way to connect on Strasburg's pitches, beginning with a solo homer by Scooter Gennett. His drive, No. 10 on the season, went over the right-center field fence to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.

Joey Votto then singled and Adam Duvall doubled. The Duvall double came when Wilmer Difo, starting in center field for the first time, and right fielder Bryce Harper converged. It appeared that both outfielders hesitated as they approached each other and the drive. Harper was unable to catch the ball and it skidded away from his feet.

After a walk to Eugenio Suárez, Scott Schebler lofted a ball to Difo for a sacrifice fly to score Votto. The Reds upped their advantage to 2-0.

Surprisingly, Devin Mesoraco and José Peraza connected with back-to-back RBI singles. Suddenly, the Reds led 4-0 in the first. The Reds sent nine men to the plate, scoring four runs on five hits in the inning.

In the bottom of the first, Brian Goodwin crushed a solo shot off of Luis Castillo, who is making his major league debut.

After one inning, the Reds lead the Nats 4-1.

Update: Tough night so far for Difo. In the bottom of the second with a man on and one out, he grounded into an inning-ending 6-6-3 double play. Not only was it a potential-rally-killing double play, it also insured that Strasburg would lead off the bottom of the third.

Then in the top of the third with Schebler on second and two outs, Difo hesitated on a drive in front of him to his right off the bat of Mesoraco, and it dropped in for a run-scoring single. After two and a half innings, the Reds lead 5-1.

Update II: In the bottom of the third with one out, the Nats loaded the bases on walks by Castillo. But this time it was Ryan Zimmerman who grounded into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.

After three innings, the Reds lead the Nats 5-1.

Update III: Anthony Rendon's solo shot in the fourth, his 14th homer of the year, trimmed the deficit to 5-2 Reds.

After four frames, the Reds lead the Nats 5-2.

Update IV: Zimmerman has grounded into a pair of double plays tonight.

Strasburg went five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with two walks, two hit batters and five strikeouts. He fired 95 pitches, 65 for strikes. Matt Grace pitches the sixth.

Update V: Facing Michael Lorenzen, Daniel Murphy homered to lead off the sixth. After a walk to Rendon, Matt Wieters singled. Difo sacrificed the runners up. Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew's long sacrifice fly to left scored Rendon. The Reds lead was down to 5-4.

Update VI: Goodwin homered to lead off the seventh. It marks the first multi-hit homer game of his career. With two outs and a man on, the Reds called on former Nationals closer Drew Storen to pitch. He was able to get Rendon to line out to end the frame.

Game even at 5-5 through seven innings.

Update VII: Facing Tony Cingrani in the bottom of the ninth, Harper hit a long fly ball to center field that was caught at the warning track. Austin Brice replaced Cingrani for the Reds. Zimmerman singled. Murphy popped out to third base. Rendon walked. Rendon has walked three times and homered tonight. With two away, Wieters struck out. Extra innings.

Update VIII: Facing Raisel Iglesias with two outs in the tenth, Turner singled. Goodwin followed with a single to right field. Turner went to third. Harper singled to right field to win it in walk-off fashion.

The Nats beat the Reds 6-5 in 10 innings after trailing 5-1. The Nats have 19 come-from-behind wins. They are 3-4 in extra innings.