Bleday's blasts, Burns' zeros fuel Reds' blowout in Nats finale

CINCINNATI -- JJ Bleday homered twice and drove in six runs and Matt McLain added a two-run long ball in support of six scoreless innings from Chase Burns, as the Reds salvaged the series finale against the Nationals, 15-1, Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

Burns (5-1) was dominant from the start, yielding just two hits, striking out seven while walking two, lowering his ERA to 1.87 and posting his fourth straight start of at least six innings. Burns has allowed two or fewer runs in six straight starts and in eight of his nine starts this season. Dane Myers made a diving grab of a sinking Jacob Young liner in left-center to end the sixth inning with runners on first and second and preserve Burns’ scoreless outing.

The Reds did most of their damage early, scoring their first six runs all on two-out at-bats before Bleday homered halfway up the bleachers in right in the fifth for a three-run blast.

With two outs in the second, Matt McLain belted a first-pitch cut fastball from Washington starter Foster Griffin (4-2) to the first row of seats one section over from the center-field grassy berm for a 2-0 lead.

Then with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth, Jose Trevino drove a Griffin fastball back up the middle for a two-run single and Ke’Bryan Hayes drove a hanging sweeper down the left-field line for two more runs and a 6-0 Cincinnati lead.

One outing after posting a career-high nine strikeouts and matching a career-best with seven innings, Griffin was tagged for a career-high nine runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three as his ERA rose from 2.12 to 3.53.

The Reds had a 5-0 lead after one inning Wednesday night and couldn’t hold it. This time, behind the pitching of Burns, they protected it successfully to avoid the sweep and extend their streak of not being swept at home to 39 consecutive series.