The Cincinnati Reds lost to the Washington Nationals after blowing a five-run lead, marking their 10th loss in 12 games. Manager Terry Francona made lineup changes in an attempt to address the team's struggles.
Key points
Reds lost to Nationals after a five-run lead
This marks their 10th loss in 12 games
Manager Terry Francona made significant lineup changes
Pitching issues, including walks, remain a concern
Mentioned in this story
Terry Francona
Cincinnati RedsWashington NationalsElly De La CruzSal Stewart
After the Cincinnati Reds got trounced in the series opener of this week’s series against the Nationals, manager Terry Francona huddled with his two bench coaches and general manager Brad Meador long after the game to talk about their ailing lineup.
“I said, ‘Let me hear it,’ “ Francona said.
By the time the next game rolled around, so had many names in the Reds lineup, with 3-4 hitters Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart moving up a spot each for the first time this season, and slumping leadoff man TJ Friedl joining slumping Matt McLain at the bottom.
And then the Reds batted around in the first for a five-run lead.
Now if they could just fix the pitching. Including all those walks. They might need an all-nighter for that one. And a bigger room.
The 55 home runs allowed this season – including the no-doubter off Tony Santillan in Wednesday's 10th inning – haven't helped.
Daylen Lile's third home run in two nights – this one more than halfway up the right-field bleachers – gave the Nationals a two-run shot and the 8-7 series-clincher.
Spencer Steer nearly tied it in the bottom of the 10th on a line drive to the top of the wall in left, but a fan who caught the ball just out over the wall was ruled to have interfered, keeping the hit to a run-scoring double instead of the tying homer – a call "confirmed" after an umpire crew review.
It dropped the Reds to their 10th loss in 12 games this month.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Q&A
What changes did the Reds make to their lineup against the Nationals?
The Reds moved 3-4 hitters Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart up a spot and shifted slumping leadoff man TJ Friedl to the bottom of the lineup.
How many games have the Reds lost in their last 12?
The Reds have lost 10 out of their last 12 games.
What was the Reds' lead before losing to the Nationals?
The Reds had a five-run lead before ultimately losing the game.
What issues is the Reds' pitching staff facing?
The Reds' pitching staff is struggling with walks and overall performance, prompting concerns from manager Terry Francona.
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On a day the Reds signed Chris Paddack off the Miami Marlins’ scrap heap out of dire need for an injury-depleted rotation, Nick Lodolo made his second start of the season since spending the first six weeks of the season fixing a blister issue.
He needed 87 pitches just to get through four innings, and aside from an eight-strike run in a three-strikeout first, he had trouble with command.
In 9 1/3 innings since returning from the IL, Lodolo has given up nine runs on 11 hits and four walks, and he’s hit two batters.
Lodolo is far from the problem for the Reds staff, at least yet. He just hasn't provided the anticipated boost, at least yet.
But when he walked home the Nationals' fifth run of the game in the third inning to tie the game, it underscored a season-long Achilles' heel of a pitching staff that has sprung leaks almost everywhere since a stirring, high-wire act in April.
The National League team leader in issuing walks so far this season has issued 15 of them with the bases loaded already this season. That's only two off the MLB-leading 17 issued by the Red Sox staff last year and nearly double the next team on the list so far this season (Astros and White Sox tied with eight).
Tyler Stephenson's first-inning grand slam Wednesday.
Tyler Stephenson's first-inning grand slam Wednesday.
The shaky pitching on this night by Lodolo blew a five-run first-inning lead that nearly matched the Reds' best output for a game this month. Their seven for the game did match the May high (both in losses).
It started with a one-out single by De La Cruz and two-out RBI double by new cleanup hitter JJ Bleday.
Steer then pulled off one of the most consequential ABS challenges of the first-year system for the Reds so far, successfully challenging a strike-3 call to turn the count to 2-2 before eventually drawing a walk.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
1 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
1 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
2 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
3 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
4 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
5 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
6 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
7 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
8 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
9 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
10 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
11 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
12 / 12
Dogs takeover GABP ahead of Reds vs. Nationals game. See photos
Pets and their owners walk the field ahead of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
After Nathaniel Lowe followed with another walk, Tyler Stephenson unloaded on a 1-1 pitch for his third home run of the season, and third career grand slam.
