Josh Bell hit his 13th home run, Jacob Young and CJ Abrams contributed RBI doubles during the decisive fifth inning, and the Washington Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-1.

Cincinnati rookie Chase Burns struck out nine Nationals batters in the first four innings and finished with 10 Ks for the second straight start.

Preview the July 23 matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

The Cincinnati rookie’s slider gave the Nationals fits early on, but they adjusted to post their second straight win.

Reds rookie starter Chase Burns threw hard, but he couldn't escape a bases-loaded-no-outs jam in the bottom of the sixth. That's where the Nationals scored three runs to add to their lead. Their bullpen, which is one of the worst in Major League Baseball, held the Reds bats scoreless the rest of the way.

BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds, leading the series 1-0. Washington is 40-60 overall and 20-30 in home games. Nationals hitters are batting a collective .246, which ranks eighth in the NL.

The Nationals put up 10 runs to edge the Reds, 10-8, in the series opener. The Reds have dropped the past two games, but that’'s nothing to the Nats’ 3-10 record over the last 13. This could be Washington’s first winning streak since July 2-3.