Edwin Jackson tosses complete game, stifles Reds
The Washington Nationals, yet again, get a very strong starting pitching performance which helps leads the Nationals to their fourth consecutive win. This time it came from Edwin Jackson. Jackson tossed 92 pitches and threw the Nats first complete game to lead the Nats to a 4-1 win over the Reds. Of the 92 pitches, Jackson threw 67 strikes. Jackson completed the 9 innings, allowing just 2 hits and 1 run while fanning 9 Reds batters. It was a dominating performance from start to finish. Something that is becoming a pleasant event on the mound for Washington starters.
Jackson gave up his only run in the second inning. The Nationals responded to tie it up with an RBI single from Jesus Flores, which scored Jayson Werth. Flores had a 3 for 3 day with an RBI and a walk. The Nationals picked up 2 more runs in the fourth inning on a 2 run double by Adam LaRoche. LaRoche added RBIs 9 and 10 and lifted his batting average to .333. The final run came on a RBI double by Jayon Werth in the 7th inning. Werth has been on fire, extending his hitting streak to 6 straight games, in which he has gone 12 for 26. Today's two hit performance was Werth's 4th multi-hit game in the last 5 games.
The win by the Nats completes a three game sweep of the Reds. The Nationals improve to 7-2 and maintain their first place lead in the National League East. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7-1 have a better record than these Nats.
Notes:
* Nationals starters have now tossed 56.2 innings and allowed only 10 earned runs. They have also recorded 55 strikeouts to just 13 walks. Impressive.
* Jayson Werth is 12 for 26 over his last 6 game, in which he extended his hitting streak to six today.
* Adam LaRoche is serving the role of Mike Morse quite well. He has driven in 10 runs over the last 8 games. Today marked the 5th out of 9 games that LaRoche knocked in two runs.
