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Jacob Young provides lead as Nationals beat Reds 5-4

WASHINGTON — Jacob Young hit a game-tying RBI single in the eighth inning, Lane Thomas added to his trade value with a run-scoring double and the Washington Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on Saturday night.

Derek Law (6-2) threw two scoreless innings on a standout night for the Nationals’ bullpen after MacKenzie Gore’s shortest start of the season. Washington has won two straight against Cincinnati, hurting the Reds’ hopes of staying relevant in the NL playoff race.

Ildemaro Vargas doubled in the eighth inning against Justin Wilson (1-2). With two outs, Young hit Wilson’s first pitch to the left side to score Vargas from third base.

In the seventh, Thomas hit a low-and-away fastball from Fernando Cruz and drove it to right field to drive in Young and tie the game at 4-all. Young finished 2-for-3 with two stolen bases.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo had said a day earlier that he would listen to trade offers for Thomas, a solid defensive outfielder who had a stellar 2023 season with 28 home runs.

All-Star Kyle Finnegan, another potential trade target, made his 27th save in 31 chances in the ninth inning.

Tyler Stephenson hit his fifth home run in eight games, a 426-foot shot to the left center grandstand in the third period, giving Cincinnati a 4-2 lead. By then, the Reds had knocked Gore out of the game.

Gore started by throwing seven straight balls. He needed 19 pitches to get one out, 40 to get two and 48 to retire the side. The Reds scored twice on three walks, a single and a sacrifice fly.

After throwing 19 more pitches in the second inning and giving up Elly De La Cruz’s go-ahead RBI double, Gore was gone and replaced by Jordan Weems to start the third inning. Gore’s totals in his shortest outing of the season: three runs, two hits, four walks, 37 strikes and 30 balls.

Nick Lodolo got off to a great start for Cincinnati, working his way into the seventh inning and leaving with a 4-3 lead.

Harold Ramirez hit a 429 foot home run to the stands left-center in the first half to make it 2-2.

Washington’s Juan Yepez extended his 12-game winning streak with a single in the third inning.

Reds: OF TJ Friedl (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday with the goal of returning for the series at Tampa Bay that begins Friday. … INF Matt McLain (left shoulder surgery) will join the team in Atlanta on Monday, with the team targeting an Aug. 12 start date for his rehab assignment.

Nationals: RHP Cade Cavalli (Tommy John surgery) felt a dead arm after his last minor league rehab start on June 21, then came down with the flu. He hasn’t pitched since, but is expected to be back on the flat soon.

Washington hopes for a three-game winning streak on Sunday, with right-handed pitcher Jake Irvin (7-8, 3.49 ERA) taking on left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott (9-6, 3.39) of the Reds.

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