Unswept Reds: Lodolo goes distance in shutout win at Nats as Cincinnati again avoids series sweep
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nick Lodolo went the distance and kept the Cincinnati Reds as the only team in the majors that hasn't been swept this season.
Lodolo threw a four-hitter for his first career shutout and the Reds snapped a three-game losing streak, including the first two games of their series at Washington, with a 5-0 win in the finale against the Nationals on Wednesday.
'We needed a win. ... I don't care how,' Reds manager Terry Francona said. 'Some games feel like they bigger than others. They're not, but they feel like it. But I'm glad we won today that's what we came for.'
The Reds (53-50), who have an off day Thursday, have played 33 series this season without being swept to set a franchise record. It was the fifth time this year they won the finale after losing the first two in a three-game series.
Cincinnati took two out of three at the New York Mets coming out of the All-Star break to match the 32 series in a row by the 1970 Reds, who went on to win the first of five National League pennants in a seven-season span capped by back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and '76. That 1970 team was swept in two games at the Chicago Cubs in its 33rd series of the season.
Lodolo (8-6) struck out eight without a walk, throwing 76 of his career-high 105 pitches for strikes. The Reds have won seven of his nine starts since the beginning of June.
'Lodolo showed up big for us to be able to come out here and, you know, obviously not get swept, but just kind of get us back on track to feeling like what we feel like we can do as a ball club,' right fielder Jake Fraley said. 'He's a phenomenal ball player. He's been pitching his butt off all year. And this is just another start that he's been doing all year.'
It was the first time in Lodolo's 68 career starts that the 27-year-old left-hander pitched into the ninth inning, and the first time he went at least seven innings in back-to-back starts. It was his second career complete game, but the other was a rain-shortened 4-2 win in six innings over Minnesota on June 18.
'I got the rainout CG, but now I got a real one,' Lodolo said. 'It's pretty cool. I feel like I had everything kind of working for the most part. Good defense, I got some early outs that helped me stay in the game that long.'
Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, when Elly Del La Cruz had a leadoff walk, stole second base and scored on Fraley's single. It stayed that way until the Reds added two runs in the eighth before center fielder Jacob Young's inning-ending leaping catch at the wall to take a homer away from Will Benson.
'I know the score ended up 5-0. That wasn't a 5-0 game, that was 1-0, (Lodolo) had to pitch through that for the majority of the game,' Francona said. 'I thought as the game went he got stronger, which is a really good sign. You know, his breaking ball has been a weapon. And as he holds his velocity the entire game he threw strikes. He just really pitched a great game.'
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
recommended
Item 1 of 3
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
39 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Summer McIntosh goes for her second gold on Day 2 at the swimming world championships
Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — It's Day 2 at the swimming world championships in Singapore. That means it's a chance for Summer McIntosh to add her second gold medal after winning the 400 freestyle on the opening day. The 18-year-old Canadian is trying for five individual golds across the eight-day event in Singapore. On Monday she's a strong favorite to get her second gold, this time in the 200-meter individual medley. She set the world record of 2 minutes, 05.70 seconds at the Canadian trials a few months ago. McIntosh is expected to be challenged by American Alex Walsh. Also in the field is 12-year-old Chinese Yu Zidi, whose age and astounding times are the talk of global swimming. The women's 100 butterfly is another eye-catching race. American Gretchen Walsh — Alex's older sister — is the favorite and set the world record of 54.60 earlier this year. Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium and Australia's Alexandria Perkins will push Walsh. Two more finals are set. Qin Haiyang of China and Nicolo Marinenghi of Italy are the favorites in the 100 breaststroke. The Italian is the Olympian champion from Paris, and Qin won this event two years ago at the worlds in Fukuoka, Japan. The 50 fly final is wide open, but the quickest qualifiers were Maxime Grousset of France and Noe Ponti of Switzerland. There are also three semifinals Monday — the men's 100 backstroke, the men's 200 free, and the women's 100 backstroke. ___ AP sports: in this topic
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Mets' Starling Marte ‘didn't miss a beat' in return from injury
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free SAN FRANCISCO — Starling Marte was contributing offensively for the Mets before he hit the injured list in early July, and since his return, he has regained that momentum. The veteran DH now has six hits in his 10 at-bats since his activation from the IL last week after going 2-for-3 with a walk in the Mets' 5-3 win over the Giants on Sunday. Marte missed two weeks after receiving a gel injection for discomfort in his right knee. 'He's been huge,' manager Carlos Mendoza said before the victory. 'He continues to give us solid at-bats against lefties, righties. He goes down and missed a few days, and then he comes back and seems like he didn't miss a beat.' 3 Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a double in the top of the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 26, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Marte entered play with a .262/.364/.412 slash line with four homers and 20 RBIs. In the starting lineup again Sunday, Marte reached base three times for the second straight day. Mendoza's other option would have been to start Mark Vientos as the DH. 'I am going to try to keep [Marte] in the lineup, but at the same time, I am going to continue to monitor him,' Mendoza said. 'I'm going to continue to give him days off and get his feedback. He's usually pretty honest with us, so we'll go game by game and series by series.' 3 Starling Marte #6, Juan Soto #22 and Ronny Mauricio #10 of the New York Mets celebrates in the dugout after Soto hit a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on July 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Paul Blackburn was sharp in a potential final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse. The right-hander allowed one earned run on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk over 6 ¹/₃ innings. Blackburn, who is rehabbing a shoulder impingement, could next rejoin the team as a long reliever/sixth starter, but Mendoza indicated a decision won't be reached until at least Monday. Delivering insights on all things Amazin's Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Edwin Díaz extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings since June 6 by pitching a scoreless ninth Sunday. He loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter but pitched out of trouble to earn his 23rd save in 25 chances this season. 3 Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz celebrates against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 27, 2025. AP The All-Star closer has allowed only one earned run over his past 32 appearances, owning a 4-0 record with 17 saves since April 23. Jose Siri, who has been sidelined since April with a fractured left tibia, still isn't close to resuming baseball activities, but it's still expected he will play again this season, according to Mendoza. Siri's workouts have consisted of running in a pool to strengthen the leg.
Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Dwight Muhammad Qawi, boxer who went from prison to champion, dies at 72
Associated Press CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the Hall of Fame fighter who took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion, has died. He was 72. Qawi's sister, Wanda King, said he died Friday following a five-year battle with dementia. Born Dwight Braxton in Baltimore, Qawi grew up in Camden. He competed in the boxing program at Rahway State Prison while serving a sentence for armed robbery, and turned professional at age 25 soon after his release in 1978. In December 1981, Qawi — who legally changed his name in 1982 following his conversion to Islam — stopped Matthew Saad Muhammad in the 10th round to win the WBC light heavyweight belt. Qawi stopped Saad again eight months later, taking six rounds. After a loss Michael Spinks, the 5-foot-7 Qawi — called 'The Camden Buzzsaw' — moved up in weight and took the WBA cruiserweight title from Piet Crous in July 1985. Qawi lost the title to future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in a 15-rounder in July 1986. Qawi later fought as a heavyweight, with George Foreman stopping him in seven rounds. Qawi retired in 1998 at age 46 with a 41-11-1 record and 25 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. After his retirement from the ring, he worked as a boxing trainer, youth advocate and drug and alcohol counselor. ___ AP sports: in this topic
