By J.Y. Mortimer
HOME 23-21, ROAD 24-18
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
• • • • • • • • • •
CINCINNATI REDS (47-39) at
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (34-51)
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Wed at Wsh: RHP Graham Ashcraft (3-6, 6.66) vs RHP Josiah Gray (6-6, 3.30) 700 wlw, bsoh, 7:05et
Thu at Wsh: LHP Brandon Williamson (1-2, 5.56) vs LHP MacKenzie Gore (4-7, 4.48) 700 wlw, bsoh, 1:05et
TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 3 (2-0) of a 4-game series vs Zoe Lacour’s Nationals and Game 2
(2-0) of the Reds’ last road trip of the season’s first half (4g at Wsh, 3g at Mil).
• The Reds are coming off a 2-1 series win and homestand vs the Padres.
• Will follow the All-Star Game break with a 10-game homestand vs the
Brewers (3g), Giants (4g) and Diamondbacks (3g).
SERIES NOTES
• The Reds are 9-14 in their last 23 games at Nationals Park but are 6-2
here the last 3 seasons.
• In their last four 4-game series vs the Nationals, the Reds went 1-3 (2022),
3-1 (2021), 1-3 (2018) and 0-4 (2017).
• Dating back to a 6-3 Reds win on 6/4/16, the Nationals have won 14 of
the last 20 games at Great American Ball Park, but the Reds won 6 of
the last 9 games there.
BIG ROAD MACHINE
• The Reds went 12-2 on their previous 3 road trips (8-1, 2-1, 2-0).
• Went 8-1 on their road trip to StL (2-1), KC (3-0) and Hou (3-0)…for only
the second time, won 8 games on a road trip of 9 games or fewer (8-0,
9/21-9/27, 1964)…was their first road trip of any length with at least 8
wins since 5/28-6/9, 1999 (9-3)…courtesy @EliasSports.
• The Reds have won 6 straight road series (3-0 at Cubs, 2-1 at Bos, 2-1
at StL, 3-0 at KC, 3-0 at Hou, 2-1 at Bal) for the first time since 7/23-8/22,
2010 (2-1 at Hou, 2-1 at Mil, 2-1 at Pit, 3-0 at Chc, 3-0 at Ari, 2-1 at LAD)…
haven’t won more than 6 consecutive road series since an 8-game road
series winning streak from 6/25-8/12, 1976.
• The 10-3 loss on 6/26 at Bal snapped the Reds’ 8-game road winning
streak, tied for the second-longest streak in the Major Leagues this season.
HALFWAY MARK
• Through the 10-inning win on 6/28 at Bal, the Reds were in first place
through 81 games for the first time since 2010 (46-35, +1.5g).
• The Reds’ 43-38 record was their best through 81 games since 2014,
when they also began 43-38.
• Last season, the Reds were 28-53 after 81 games.
RUNNING MEN
• The Reds rank second in the Major Leagues with 101 stolen bases (TB
105), their highest total since 2017 (120sb)…recorded 58 stolen bases
all of 2022.
• Have been successful on 61 of their last 68 attempts.
• The Reds recorded 50 stolen bases in June, their highest steals total in
a calendar month since September 1912 (53sb).
• 4 times this season recorded at least 5 stolen bases in a game (6sb on 6/2
vs Mil, 9sb on 6/3 vs Mil, 5sb on 6/25 at Bal, 6sb on Tue at Wsh)…prior to
6/2, the Reds hadn’t recorded 5 stolen bases in a game since 4/10/17 at Pit.
• Their 9 stolen bases on 6/3 vs Mil (Jake Fraley 3, Spencer Steer 2,
Jonathan India 2, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild) was their highest singlegame total since 5/30/1976 vs LAD (9sb)…the Reds’ single-game record
since 1900 for stolen bases in a game remains 10 (5/29/1913 at StL).
RED HOTS
• The Reds have used 50 players…in 2022 used a club record 66 players.
• Reds baserunners in 69 attempts have scored 68 runs from second base
on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
• The Reds are the first team in Major League history to move into first
place alone in 9 games or fewer after falling 5 or more games under
.500 while facing a deficit of at least 5 games…on 6/9 were 29-35 and
trailed the first-place Pirates by 5.0 games…beginning 6/10 won 9 straight
games to move into first place alone on 6/19.
• The Reds went 18-9 in June, their highest victory total in any month since
June 2014 (18-10).
• The Reds’ 12-game winning streak, snapped by a 7-6 loss on 6/24 vs
Atl, tied their modern club record (5/16-5/27, 1939 & 4/30-5/12, 1957).
• 10 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt
McLain, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Eduardo Salazar, OF TJ Hopkins, LHP Andrew Abbott, IF Elly De La Cruz,
RHP Ricky Karcher, RHP Randy Wynne)…13 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
RECORD VS EXPOS/NATIONALS *
All-Time Since 1969: ……………………………. 264-238
Vs Expos: ……………………………………………. 209-178
Vs Nationals: ……………………………………… 55-60
At Crosley Field: ………………………………………… 10-0
At Riverfront/Cinergy Field: ……………………….. 97-81
At Great American Ball Park: ………………… 33-31
At Jarry Park: …………………………………………… 28-20
At Olympic Stadium: …………………………………. 70-72
At Hiram Bithorn Stadium: …………………………….. 1-2
At RFK Stadium: ………………………………………….. 5-4
At Nationals Park: ……………………………… 20-28
In 2023: ……………………………………………………… 2-0
At Great American Ball Park: ……………………. 0-0
At Nationals Park: …………………………………. 2-0
* 1969-2004 (Montreal Expos), 2005-present (Nationals)
2023 SCHEDULE & RESULTS
7/3 at Wsh ….. W, 3-2……………..Weaver / Irvin / Díaz
7/4 at Wsh …..W, 8-4…………Kennedy / Corbin / Sims
Wed, 7/5 at Wsh ………………………………………… 7:05
Thu, 7/6 at Wsh …………………………………………. 1:05
Fri, 8/4 at Cin …………………………………………….. 6:40
Sat, 8/5 at Cin…………………………………………….. 4:10
Sun, 8/6 at Cin …………………………………………… 1:40
2022 RESULTS
6/2 at Cin ……W, 8-1 …………………… Ashcraft / Adon
6/3 at Cin …… L, 5-8 ………….. Gray / Minor / Rainey
6/4 at Cin …… L, 8-10 .. Finnegan/Strickland/Rainey
6/5 at Cin …… L, 4-5 ……… Corbin / Castillo / Cishek
8/26 at Wsh .. W, 7-3 ……… Minor / Cavalli ML debut
8/27 at Wsh .. W, 6-2 ………………….. Gibaut / Espino
8/28 at Wsh .. L, 2-3 …… Corbin / Lodolo / Finnegan
LAST 10 SEASONS VS NATIONALS
2013 …………………….. 3-4 2018 …………………. 1-6
2014 …………………….. 3-3 2019 …………………. 1-5
2015 …………………….. 5-1 2020 ……………. COVID
2016 …………………….. 3-4 2021 ………………… 5-2
2017 …………………….. 1-6 2022 ………………… 3-4
ALL-STAR
RHP Alexis Diaz is the Reds’ lone National
League All-Star, his first career selection…
is the first Reds reliever to make the All-Star
team since Aroldis Chapman in 2015 and
the first righthanded reliever since Francisco
Cordero in 2009.
NL CENTRAL DIVISION BEGINNING APRIL 24
Team W L Pct. GB
Cincinnati 40-24 .625 –
Milwaukee 31-33 .484 – 9.0
Chicago 27-36 .429 – 12.5
St. Louis 26-37 .413 – 13.5
Pittsburgh 24-38 .387 – 15.0
Braves lead MLB, 43-20, .683; Nationals are 27-37, .422
IN THE STANDINGS
The Reds are trying to become the first team
to win a division after losing at least 100
games the season before…on 4/23 the Reds
were 8 games under .500 (7-15) and 8.5
games out of first place, both season highs…
their 40-24 record beginning 4/24 is the best
in the Central Division and second-best
in the Major Leagues…are a season-high 8
games over .500 (47-39)…haven’t been 8
games over .500 since 9/10/21 and haven’t
been 9 games over since 9/4/21…for 4 straight
days from 6/21-6/24 led the NL Central by 1.5
games, their largest lead since 4/18/17, when
they were ahead by a 2017 season-high 1.5
games…haven’t led the division by more than
1.5 games since 4/10/15, when they were
ahead by a 2015 season-high 2.5 games.
STREAKING
The Reds have won 18 of their last 22 games
and 26 of their last 36 games…beginning
4/24 won or tied 14 of their last 20 completed
series (13-6-1)…won 7 of their previous 8
series (2-1 vs LAD, 2-1 at StL, 3-0 at KC, 3-0
at Hou, 3-0 vs Col, 1-2 vs Atl, 2-1 at Bal, 2-1
vs SD
KOMEBACK KIDS
The Reds lead the Major Leagues with 30
come-from-behind wins…won 16 games in
their final at bat, including 6 walkoff wins.
LOWEST CAREER ERA AFTER 100 GAMES, REDS
Rob Dibble, RHP ………………. 2.01 …….. 1988-1989
John Franco, LHP ……………… 2.18 …….. 1984-1985
Hod Eller, RHP …………………. 2.35 …….. 1917-1919
Rob Murphy, LHP ……………… 2.39 …….. 1985-1987
Rawly Eastwick, RHP ………… 2.54 …….. 1974-1976
Alexis Díaz, RHP……….. 98g, 1.95 …….. 2022-2023
Since 1912, when earned runs became an official statistic in the NL
Courtesy @EliasSports
LOWEST ERA AFTER FIRST 6 CAREER STARTS, REDS
Tom Browning, LHP …………. 0.95 …………. 1984-85
Andrew Abbott, LHP ……….. 1.21 ………………. 2023
Wayne Simpson, RHP ………. 1.35 ………………. 1970
Players who have debuted since 1912, when earned runs
became an official statistic in the NL…courtesy @EliasSports
REDS WHO HIT FOR THE CYCLE
Long John Reilly…………..8/6/1890………….. Pit Innocents
Tom Parrott…………………9/28/1894………………NY Giants
Heinie Groh ……………. 7/5/1915 (G2)……………. Chi Cubs
Harry Craft…………………..6/8/1940…………Bklyn Dodgers
Frank Robinson ……………5/2/1959……………. LA Dodgers
Eric Davis ……………………6/2/1989…………….. SD Padres
Elly De La Cruz *………. 6/23/2023 …………. Atl Braves
* 15th career game, third-fewest at the time of any player’s first cycle
(Cliff Heathcote, 6th, 6/13/1919 & Gary Ward, 14th, 9/18/1980)
* Fifth-youngest Major League player to hit for the cycle (21.163)
Courtesy @EliasSports
LONGEST WINNING STREAKS IN REDS HISTORY
14 ………. 7/26-8/12, 1899 11 ………… 9/11-9/21, 1940
13 ………… 6/5-6/19, 1890 11 ………….. 7/5-7/16, 1896
12 …….. 6/10 – 6/23, 2023 11 ………….. 6/23-7/5, 1894
12 ………. 4/30-5/12, 1957
12 ………. 5/16-5/27, 1939 Courtesy @EliasSports
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS: 1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, 1990 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: 1919, 1939, 1940, 1961, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1990
Tonight’s Pitcher – #51 Graham Ashcraft, RHP
2023 STARTS
DATE TEAM OPP RESULT DEC ERA BAA GS CG BFP IP H R ER BB SO HR HBP PT
4/2/2023 CIN PIT W, 3-1 W (1-0) 1.29 .160 1 0 26 7.0 4 1 1 1 6 1 0 95
4/10/2023 CIN @ATL L, 4-5 (10) – 2.08 .213 1 0 25 6.+ 6 2 2 3 7 0 0 97
4/15/2023 CIN PHI W, 13-0 W (2-0) 1.42 .206 1 0 25 6.0 4 0 0 4 4 0 0 89
4/21/2023 CIN @PIT L, 2-4 – 1.88 .200 1 0 21 5.0 3 2 2 3 4 0 0 89
4/26/2023 CIN TEX W, 5-3 (bs) 2.10 .190 1 0 26 6.0 3 2 2 4 3 0 1 101
April Totals, 5 starts 3-2 2-0 2.10 .190 5 0 123 30.0 20 7 7 15 24 1 1 471
5/2/2023 CIN @SD W, 2-1 (10) – 2.00 .202 1 0 25 6.+ 6 1 1 1 3 0 0 95
5/7/2023 CIN CHW L, 4-17 L (2-1) 3.82 .229 1 0 13 ^ 1.2 6 8 8 2 3 1 0 52
5/12/2023 CIN @MIA W, 7-4 – 3.95 .232 1 0 26 5.2 6 4 3 2 3 2 0 99
5/17/2023 CIN @COL L, 6-11 L (2-2) 4.84 .255 1 0 25 5.+ * 10 7 7 1 3 0 0 80
5/23/2023 CIN STL L, 5-8 L (2-3) 5.57 .276 1 0 24 5.0 * 10 7 7 0 5 2 1 91
5/28/2023 CIN @CHC W, 8-5 W (3-3) 5.55 .275 1 0 22 5.0 5 3 3 3 6 1 0 92
May Totals, 6 starts 3-3 1-3 9.21 .347 6 0 135 28.1 43 30 29 9 23 6 1 509
6/3/2023 CIN MIL L, 8-10 L (3-4) 6.64 .288 1 0 25 4.0 9 * 10 * 10 4 2 2 0 86
6/8/2023 CIN LAD L, 0-6 L (3-5) 6.78 .288 1 0 14 2.2 3 3 3 2 1 0 2 46
6/24/2023 CIN ATL L, 6-7 L (3-6) 7.17 .301 1 0 24 4.+ * 10 6 6 0 2 * 3 1 87
Friday CIN SD W, 7-5 (11) – 6.66 .289 1 0 25 6.2 3 1 1 2 7 1 0 94
June Totals, 4 starts 1-3 0-3 10.38 .329 4 0 88 17.1 25 20 20 8 12 6 3 313
Season Totals, 15 starts 7-8 3-6 6.66 .289 15 0 346 75.2 88 57 56 32 59 13 5 1293
Single-Game Career Highs 30 8.1 10 10 10 5 8 3 1 112
* Career highs, ^ Shortest start of his career, (bs) Victim of blown save
CAREER VS NATIONALS
DATE TEAM OPP RESULT DEC ERA BAA GS CG BFP IP H R ER BB SO HR HBP PT
6/2/2022 CIN WAS W, 8-1 W (2-0) 1.53 .185 1 0 26 7.0 4 1 1 1 5 1 0 92
Career vs Nationals, 1 start 1-0 1-0 1.29 .160 1 0 26 7.0 4 1 1 1 5 1 0 92
CAREER VS NATIONALS BATTERS
BATTER PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB HBP SO BA OBP SLG
Chavis, Michael WAS 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000
Garcia, Luis WAS 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000
Robles, Victor WAS 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000
Ruiz, Keibert WAS 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000
Smith, Dominic WAS 3 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 .333 .667
Team Totals 14 14 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .071 .071 .143
RED HOTS • Tonight is making his second career appearance and start vs the Nationals.
• In Fri’s 11-inning, 7-5 walkoff win vs SD allowed only a solo HR to Trent Grisham in the sixth inning.
• Has made 2 apps since a 15-day injured stint on the injured list with a left calf contusion (6/9-6/23)…in those 2 starts went 0-1, 5.91 (10.2ip, 13h, 7er, 2bb, 9k,
4hr, .289baa).
• In his first 6 starts through 5/2 went 2-0, 2.00 (36ip, 8er, .202baa)…in his last 9 starts beginning 5/7 went 1-6, 10.89 (39.2ip, 48er, .352baa).
• Became the first Reds pitcher to begin a season with 6 starts without allowing more than 2 earned runs in any of those starts since Luis Castillo began the 2019
campaign by allowing 2 ER or fewer in each of his first 7 starts.
• In his first 3 starts (19ip, 3er) became the eighth Reds pitcher, since 1901 and including Nick Lodolo in 2023, to begin a season with at least 17.0 innings while
allowing 4 earned runs or fewer.
• Between a solo HR by Pit’s Bryan Reynolds in his season debut and a 2-run HR by WSox’ Hanser Alberto’s on 5/7 in his seventh start, Ashcraft recorded a
career-high homerless streak of 33.0 innings.
• In the 17-4 loss on 5/7 vs WSox allowed a career-high 8 runs in 1.2 innings…was the shortest start of his career and the shortest start by a Reds pitcher to that
point in the season…was charged with all 8 runs in the second inning after throwing a perfect first…entered that 5/7 start leading all National League pitchers in
bWAR (2.1), the third-best bWAR among all players in the Major Leagues (Gerrit Cole 2.5, Ronald Acuña Jr. 2.2).
• Became the first Reds pitcher to begin a non-COVID season with 3 consecutive quality starts since Amir Garrett in 2017 (3qs).
• Started the third game of the season and on 4/2 earned the 3-1 win vs the Pirates…following 2 rainouts, didn’t pitch again until 4/10 at Atl.
• In the 5-3 walkoff win on 4/26 vs Tex, was pitching 2 days after the death of his 82-year-old grandmother, Ann Ashcraft, a Rangers fan who lived in Fort Worth…
the next day went on the bereavment list…in his next start, on 5/2 at SD, allowed 1 run in 6.0 innings.
• In his last start of spring training, on 3/22 vs SD, allowed 1 hit while recording 10 strikeouts without a walk in 6.0 innings…time of game was 1:52.
• Was selected by the Reds in the sixth round of the June 2019 draft…was signed by Jonathan Reynolds.
COURTESY REDS MEDIA RELATIONS & MLBpressbox.com
