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 "He's been getting timely hits, driving in runs and showing a little
bit of power," Price said.
Suarez did all of that Monday, collecting three hits and driving in
two runs, including the go-ahead, eighth-inning home run as the Reds
continued their surprising mastery of the Washington Nationals in a
3-2 triumph.
The slight Suarez will never be mistaken for anyone's idea of a
power hitter, but he connected on an 0-2 pitch from Washington
reliever Casey Janssen (0-2) in the eighth and hit a soaring shot
just over the wall and inside the left field foul pole to put the
Reds ahead late in a tight contest.
"My first reaction was that I popped it up because I hit it in front
and (did) not hit it well," Suarez said. "I don't know, God helped
me with that ball, because I got a home run."
Suarez is hitting .408 (20-for-49) in his past 14 games, raising his
average to .329. He singled in the second inning but was picked off
by Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos as Reds pitcher Anthony DeScalfani
attempted a sacrifice bunt.
He would atoned for that mistake by driving in a run with a
sixth-inning single off Nationals starter Doug Fister to give the
Reds a 2-1 lead.
"I feel really blessed right now," Suarez said. "I'm feeling
comfortable and I'm working hard every day on my approach at the
plate."
Manny Parra (1-1) tossed one inning for the win as part of a
four-pitcher effort in relief of DeSclafani, who yielded two runs in
5 2/3 innings.
Newly minted All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth
inning for his 17th save, and the last-place Reds improved to 4-0
against the National League East-leading Nationals this season after
being swept in a weekend series by the Milwaukee Brewers.
"You're always chasing that next win, and more than anything it
doesn't matter if it was against the Nationals or any other team, it
was just good to win," Price said.
Second baseman Danny Espinosa hit his ninth homer of the season for
Washington, which saw center fielder Denard Span (back spasms) and
third baseman Yunel Escobar (left hamstring tightness) make early
exits during the game.
Fister went six innings, allowing eight hits and two runs (one
earned) while striking out two and walking one.
"For me, there's some inconsistency on the mound," he said. "I'm not
making quality pitches at times that are needed, especially. Just
fighting with myself a lot. I'm trying to get the ball down and
really try to get in a rhythm, and it's a battle for me. I've got a
lot of work to do in the next five days."
After a 29-minute rain delay in the first inning, both teams
capitalized on mistakes to get on the board.
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The Reds scored in the second inning thanks to an error by the
normally sure-handed Fister. Cincinnati catcher Brayan Pena chopped
a ball in front of the plate that Fister grabbed, but perhaps not
realizing he had the slow Pena lumbering down the line, Fister
hurriedly threw the ball past first baseman Clint Robinson and down
the right field line, allowing Pena to move to second. Pena later
scored on a single by DeSclafani.
The Nationals used a two-out rally in the third to even things up.
Left fielder Matt den Dekker and Escobar reached on singles. After a
walk by right fielder Bryce Harper loaded the bases, DeSclafani
bounced a curveball into the dirt and off Pena's chest in front of
home plate. A hustling den Dekker took advantage of the wild pitch
and just beat the throw home with a hard slide.
"Opportunity knocks, and he's ready," Nationals manager Matt
Williams said of den Dekker, who entered the game after Span's exit.
"It's not ideal and not the way we planned it today, but sometimes
you have to adjust."
NOTES: Nationals RHP Max Scherzer was selected to the National
League All-Star team by Giants manager Bruce Bochy after going 9-6
over the season's first half. "It's awesome. It's one of the highest
honors in the game to be selected to play in an All-Star Game,"
Scherzer said. ... Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman was named to the NL team
before earning his 17th save Monday night. ... Washington RF Bryce
Harper said he would not participate in this year's Home Run Derby,
primarily due to the fact that his father recently had rotator cuff
surgery and could not throw to him. "He knows my sweet spot," Harper
said. ... The Reds recalled OF Yorman Rodriguez from Triple-A
Louisville and optioned RHP Josh Smith to Double-A Pensacola. ...
The Nationals put RHP David Carpenter on the paternity list and
recalled LHP Sammy Solis from Double-A Harrisburg.
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