Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Nick Lodolo pitches his 1st complete game as Reds beat Nationals 5-0

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nick Lodolo pitched his first complete game with eight strikeouts, Nick Fraley and Santiago Espinal each had two hits and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Wednesday.

Lodolo (8-6) allowed four hits with no walks. The 27-year-old left-hander made his 21st start of the season and has 124 1/3 innings pitched, a single-season career best.

Noelvi Marte hit an RBI double and Jose Trevino’s sacrifice fly drove in Jake Fraley in the eighth inning. Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz each had an RBI in the ninth to cap the scoring.

De La Cruz drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, stole second base and scored on a single by Jake Fraley off starter Michael Soroka (3-8) to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.

The Nationals had their five-game home win streak against Cincinnati snapped.

Key moment

Jackson Rutledge replaced Konnor Pilkington with one out in the eighth and gave up back-to-back singles to Austin Hays and Fraley before Marte doubled to left field and Trevino’s sac fly made it 3-0.

Key stat

The Reds, who lost the first two games of the series, avoided being swept for the first time this season. Cincinnati set a franchise record with 33 straight series without being swept, breaking the mark of 32 set by the 1970 Reds, who went on to win the National League pennant.

Up next

Cincinnati’s Nick Martinez (8-9, 4.73 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Tampa Bay. The Rays haven’t yet announced their starter. Washington’s MacKenzie Gore (4-9, 3.59) takes the mound Friday against Minnesota’s Zebby Matthews (1-2, 6.26) to kick off a three-game set.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz, right, steals second base as Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, left, fields the late throw during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz celebrates in the dugout after he scored on single by Jake Fraley during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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