Reds get six shutout innings from Chase Burns and JJ Bleday homers twice in 15-1 rout of Nationals

The Cincinnati Reds bounced back from a tough series against the Washington Nationals with a dominant 15-1 victory on Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. Chase Burns delivered a stellar performance on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out seven batters and allowing just two hits. The 23-year-old right-hander has been on a hot streak, winning his fourth consecutive decision and only giving up one earned run in his last three starts.

Matt McLain got the Reds on the board early with a two-run homer in the second inning, setting the tone for a power-packed offensive display. JJ Bleday was the star of the show, smashing two home runs and driving in a total of six runs. His three-run blast in the fifth inning chased Nationals starter Foster Griffin from the game after he gave up a total of nine runs in just 4 1/3 innings.

Bleday continued his onslaught with another two-run homer in the seventh inning, marking his sixth home run of the season and the third multi-homer game of his career. The Reds’ offense didn’t stop there, as they tacked on more runs against Washington outfielder-turned-pitcher Joey Wiemer in the eighth inning.

Defensively, the Reds’ outfielders also shined, with Spencer Steer making a crucial sliding catch in left field and Dane Myers diving to make a spectacular grab in center field. Steer contributed offensively as well, scoring three runs in the game. Elly De La Cruz continued his hot streak at the plate, recording his sixth consecutive multi-hit game.

The Nationals managed to scratch across a lone run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, but it was too little, too late as the Reds cruised to victory. The win extended Cincinnati’s streak of consecutive home series without being swept to 39, the longest since their franchise record of 52 from 2011-2013.

Looking ahead, the Nationals will send Zack Littell to the mound to face the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, while the Reds will turn to Andrew Abbott in their matchup against the Cleveland Indians.

Overall, the Reds’ offensive explosion and stellar pitching performance from Chase Burns propelled them to a much-needed victory and helped them avoid a sweep at the hands of the Nationals. With the team firing on all cylinders, they will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming series and continue their push towards a playoff berth.