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Phillips leads Reds over Nationals

Thu 3rd, July 2008

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Brandon Phillips drove in three runs on three hits to lift the Cincinnati Reds over the Washington Nationals, 5-3, in the first game of a four-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Johnny Cueto (7-8) tossed seven strong innings for the Reds, who won for the first time in three outings. The 22-year-old rookie Dominican allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk, while striking out eight, including the first three hitters of the game. He earned the win in his first career start against Washington.

Elijah Dukes homered and drove in two for the Nationals, who took six of seven from the Reds last season and have lost three of four overall.

Jesus Colome (2-2) suffered the defeat in relief of John Lannan. Colome was tagged for two unearned runs on one hit and one walk. Lannan went the first six innings as he yielded three runs, five hits and three walks.

With the game tied at three, the Reds brought seven hitters to the plate in the seventh en route to taking a 5-3 advantage and they led the rest of the way.

Colome got David Ross out to start the frame, and then appeared to get the ensuing batter, Corey Patterson, out on a groundout. However, Dmitri Young could not handle a hard throw by Colome and Patterson went to second with one out. Jerry Hairston Jr. followed with a single, moving Patterson to third as he moved up to second on the throw. The Nationals decided to intentionally walk Jeff Keppinger to load the bases for Ken Griffey Jr. The move paid off at first as Charlie Manning came in to pop up the future Hall of Famer. However, with two outs, Phillips smacked a single to right off of Luis Ayala as Patterson and Hairston came around for the eventual game winners.

Francisco Cordero tossed a perfect ninth for his 16th save of the season for Cincinnati.

The Reds opened the scoring in the third on an RBI single up the middle by Hairston. Ross crossed the plate on the hit after he drew a one-out walk and advanced to second courtesy of a Cueto sacrifice.

The Nationals posted a pair of runs in the fourth off of Cueto to grab a 2-1 advantage. Cristian Guzman got it going with a one-out single and came around one batter later on a double by Dukes. Dukes then tallied the go-ahead run after stealing third and racing home on an Austin Kearns base hit up the middle. Kearns was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game.

Each team lit the scoreboard in the sixth. In the top of the frame, Dukes led off with his sixth homer of the season for Washington to make it a 3-1 contest.

But the Reds fought right back in the home half to knot the game at three. Hairston led off with a walk, ran to second via a Keppinger groundout and came home on a base hit up the middle by Phillips. Edwin Encarnacion followed with a single and Joey Votto brought in Phillips with another base hit.

Game Notes

Young hit his 300th career double in the sixth inning...Infielder Andy Phillips was on the Reds' bench after he was claimed off waivers earlier in the day...The Nationals optioned utility player Kory Casto to Triple-A Columbus to make room on the roster for Kearns...Brandon Phillips has a seven- game hit streak.

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