García homers as the Nationals beat the Reds 4-1

CINCINNATI (AP) — Luis García Jr. homered during Washington's three-run seventh inning, and the Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Sunday. García gave Washington a 2-1 lead with his one-out solo drive off Graham Ashcraft (2-3). CJ Abrams tacked on a two-run double against Taylor Rogers. Jorge López (4-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win, and Kyle Finnegan handled the ninth for his 11th save. Washington took two of three in the weekend series at Cincinnati. Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore struck out nine in five innings. He allowed four hits and walked four. The Reds wasted a sharp performance by Nick Martinez, who struck out six while working six innings of one-run ball. García put Washington in front with a sacrifice fly in the second. But Tyler Stephenson hit a leadoff drive in the bottom half for Cincinnati. It was Stephenson's first homer in his third game since he missed the start of the season with a left oblique strain. Key moment With two outs, a runner aboard and rain falling in the fifth, Elly De La Cruz hit a shot down the left-field line for Cincinnati that was initially ruled a home run before the umpires gathered and changed the call to a foul ball. Key stat Gore leads the majors with 68 strikeouts in just 46 innings. Up next The Nationals begin a six-game homestand on Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians. The Reds open a seven-game trip on Monday with the first of four against the Braves. Brady Singer (4-1, 3.24 ERA) starts for the Reds against AJ Smith-Shawver (1-2, 4.26 ERA). ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb