For the second straight game, the Washington Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds in extra innings to improve to 2-0 at home and take a half-game lead in the NL East. Jordan Zimmermann and the Nationals' bullpen put together a dominant performance against the Reds' lineup, allowing only one run and five hits in 13 innings.
The Reds manufactured a run off Zimmermann in the top of the fifth, when Willie Harris led off with a double and was brought home on a sac fly by pitcher Bronson Arroyo. But that's all the hard-throwing righty would yield, even overcoming back-to-back errors by the Nats' infield in the 7th.
But it looked like Zimmermann's work would be wasted, as Davey Johnson's lineup could not break through against Bronson Arroyo. Trailing 1-0, Washington finally got on the board in the bottom of the 8th when Xavier Nady homered off of Bill Bray. It was the first batter that Bray faced, after Dusty Baker puled Arroyo. But Johnson pushed the right button and countered by pulling back Chad Tracy and replacing him with pinch-hitting Nady.
The Nats would finally break the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 13th inning, when Jayson Werth singled with the bases loaded and brought home Danny Espinosa. Werth was the only National with more than one hit, extending his hit streak to five games after a rough first series in Chicago.
It was another thrilling win at Nats' Park, and they will try to clinch the series on Saturday afternoon. Edwin Jackson will make his second start while the Reds will put Homer Bailey on the mound
For more on this game and all things Washington Nationals baseball, please head over to Federal Baseball. For a view from the other dugout you can check out Red Reporter, SB Nation's Cincinnati Reds blog. For more on this and every Major League Baseball game you can head over to the SB nation MLB hub page.