Ford's home run breaks personal slump
Harry Ford connected on an 81 mph sweeper from the Reds' pitcher in the fourth inning, sending the ball 396 feet over the fence. It was Ford's first home run since July 17 and gave the Nationals a 5-3 lead that they would not relinquish. Ford had been hitless in his previous 27 at-bats, a dry spell that ended with a 2-for-4 night at the plate.
The Nationals had been struggling to find offensive consistency since their road trip. With Friday's win, they now have five games in the month of August where they scored at least five runs. Ford's timely hit was the difference in a game that saw both teams battle through a series of rallies and momentum shifts.
Cavalli anchors Nationals' pitching staff
Cade Cavalli was the standout on the mound for Washington, recording his first win of August. He threw six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits, while striking out eight batters. Cavalli faced a few tense moments in the third and seventh innings but managed to keep the Reds from building a lead.
Manager Blake Butera gave Yovanny Cruz and Orlando Ribalta a chance to close the game, and the two lefty relievers combined for a perfect final three innings. They struck out two batters and kept Cincinnati's offense in check, allowing no hits across their combined one inning of work.
Nationals continue strong run against Reds
The Nationals now lead the season series against the Reds 3-1 and have won three of the first four games between the teams. The Nationals will look to take the series on Saturday when right-hander Andrew Alvarez takes the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 PM on Aug.