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.

The Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals meet Tuesday at Nationals Park in the second game of their 3-game series.

Six Cincinnati Reds Minor League affiliates were in action on Tuesday. Here is how their top prospects performed: Louisville Bats (42-55) Won 9-4 Hector Rodriguez went 2-4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored.

The Cincinnati Reds came out of the All-Star break, won two games and were just 1 1/2 games behind the final wild-card position

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The Cincinnati Reds have lost two straight games and are currently 52-49 and 3 1/2 games out of the National League Wild Card spot. Kiley McDaniel Jeff Passan from ESPN.com ranked their top 50 trade deadline candidates and two Reds pitchers were listed. Starting pitcher Nick Martinez was ranked 40th and closer Emilio Pagan was ranked 45th.

Reds fans have been attending games at a slightly slower pace than last year as they prepare for the season’s second half. But that’s likely to change.

Mets Add Former Yankees Pitcher After Reds Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Cincinnati Reds fan favorite and pitcher Tejay Antone threw his first live batting practice this week since his third Tommy John surgery. "First live batting practice," Antone wrote on Instagram. "2 K’s 1 GB and 1 PO. #brickbybrick "