The Cincinnati Reds ended their homestand on a disappointing note, suffering a 4-1 defeat against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park. This loss marked their fourth in seven games during the stretch. The pivotal moment came in the seventh inning when Luis Garcia Jr. hit a solo home run, breaking the 1-1 tie. Graham Ashcraft took the loss after allowing three runs in the inning, which dropped the Reds' record to 18-17.

Despite a promising solo home run in the second inning by Tyler Stephenson, the Reds struggled to maintain momentum. With a challenging road trip ahead, including four games against the Atlanta Braves, the team looks to recalibrate. Manager Francona expressed his disappointment but emphasized the need to move forward, pointing to the resilience inherent in baseball. Reds' shortstop Elly De La Cruz extended his on-base streak to 23 games, a silver lining in a tough outing.