CINCINNATI -- The biggest addition for the Nationals this season might be the return of a player who was already on their roster. Playing in just his second game back from a torn ACL, Adam Eaton erupted for a career day to lead Washington to a 13-7 victory over the Reds on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
Eaton, an Ohio native who grew up about 90 minutes outside of Cincinnati, collected a career-high five hits, including a pair of doubles, a solo home run in the seventh and a two-run single in the eighth. He finished a triple shy of the cycle and scored four runs on the day to lead the barrage on Reds right-hander Luis Castillo, who surrendered a career-high six runs in five innings with six strikeouts. The Nationals hit four home runs to power their offense.
After being shut out in the season opener on Friday, the Reds did mount some offense. They scored three runs against right-hander Stephen Strasburg, although only one was earned -- a solo homer from Scott Schebler in the fourth inning. Adam Duvall added a two-run homer in the eighth, and Eugenio Suarez had a two-run shot in the ninth.
But Cincinnati had no answer for Eaton, who now owns 10 hits in 20 career at-bats at Great American Ball Park.