Washington Nationals defeat Cincinnati Reds 5-3

The Washington Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Friday night, marking their second victory in their last 10 games. Daylen Lile provided an early boost with a three-run home run in the first inning, and Harry Ford added a two-run shot in the fourth.

Despite the loss, Nationals starter Cade Cavalli earned his sixth consecutive quality start, striking out eight over six-plus innings. For the Reds, Eugenio Suárez, Matt McLain, and Elly de la Cruz each hit solo home runs. De la Cruz also committed a first-inning fielding error at shortstop that allowed runners to reach first and third, contributing to the early Nationals lead.

Following the game, Nationals manager Blake Butera addressed concerns regarding Cade Cavalli's workload. Despite Cavalli's recent return from Tommy John surgery, Butera stated there are no plans to intentionally limit his innings, noting the team will instead monitor his performance and physical trends.