In a game that had everything—drama, comebacks, and a little bit of magic—the Washington Nationals stunned the Cincinnati Reds 8-7 in 10 innings on Wednesday night, thanks to a clutch two-run homer from rookie sensation Daylen Lile.
Playing in front of his father at Great American Ball Park, the 23-year-old Lile crushed a 409-foot blast to right-center field off Reds reliever Tony Santillan in the top of the 10th, scoring automatic runner CJ Abrams and giving the Nats a lead they wouldn't relinquish. It was Lile's third home run in just two games and his sixth of the season—a remarkable showing for the second-year pro from Louisville, Kentucky.
But the game was far from over. In the bottom of the 10th, Reds slugger Spencer Steer launched a line drive to left field that looked destined for the wall. A fan reached over and caught it, prompting umpires to rule fan interference. The call gave Steer a double and allowed automatic runner Sal Stewart to score, pulling Cincinnati within one. Washington reliever PJ Poulin then slammed the door, recording the final two outs for his second save of the season.
The Nationals had to claw their way back from an early 5-0 deficit after Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson launched a grand slam in the first inning. But Washington refused to fold. Joey Wiemer sparked the rally with an RBI double in the second, followed by a two-run homer from Keibert Ruiz that cut the lead to 5-4. In the third, Wiemer drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 5-5.
Cincinnati briefly regained the lead in the bottom of the third on a throwing error by shortstop Abrams, but the Nationals answered again in the sixth on an RBI groundout by Luis García Jr. to knot the score at 6-6.
The loss extends Cincinnati's rough stretch to 10 losses in their last 12 games. Meanwhile, Washington continues to shine away from home, improving to 15-9 on the road—including 3-2 on their current trip.
Both teams will be back at it Thursday afternoon as the Nationals look for a three-game sweep. Washington sends left-hander Foster Griffin (4-1, 2.12 ERA) to the mound, while the Reds counter with right-hander Chase Burns (4-1, 2.11 ERA).