De La Cruz hits long homer with knob cover as Cincinnati Reds beat Washington Nationals 9-2 #Cruz #hits #long #homer #knob #cover #Cincinnati #Reds #beat #Washington #Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a massive solo homer and two doubles after a mix-up with a covering on the knob of his bat, and the surging Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Nationals 9-2 on Wednesday night.

Joey Votto also homered and finished with three hits as Cincinnati won for the seventh time in eight games. Will Benson had two hits and two RBIs for the NL Central leaders, and Graham Ashcraft pitched six effective innings in his first win since May 28.

Washington collected 10 hits, but it went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position in its fourth loss in five games. Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray (6-7) allowed three earned runs and eight hits in five innings.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brett Kennedy throws to the Washington Nationals in the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 4, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Brett Kennedy won in his return to the majors as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Nationals 8-4 thanks to a big offensive showing.

Washington Nationals' Stone Garrett, right, and Dominic Smith celebrate after Garrett's grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, July 2, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Stone Garrett hit a grand slam, Jeimer Candelario added a solo shot and reliever Kyle Finnegan pitched out of late-inning jams that helped the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4.

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez is ejected by home plate umpire Derek Thomas after Nationals' Keibert Ruiz was called out for running out of the baseline during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez was ejected in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners for arguing a play at the plate, where Keibert Ruiz was called out for running out of the baseline.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jordan Weems reacts to striking out Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore during the 11th inning of a baseball game to seal a 7-4 win, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Jordan Weems worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the 10th inning against the heart of Seattle’s order, Lane Thomas hit a two-run double in the 11th, and the Washington Nationals beat the Mariners 7-4.

De La Cruz, one of the majors’ top rookies and a key engine behind Cincinnati’s rise to the top of its division, had what appeared to be an empty sensor cover on the knob of his bat. But it was removed after Nationals manager Dave Martinez questioned its use before the infielder batted in the second.

Umpires reviewed the legality of the knob cover with the league office and informed De La Cruz he was allowed to put it back on his bat for his second at-bat in the third.

Major League Baseball said in a statement that “the housing used by the player is permissible and approved, which was communicated to the Nationals.”

After flying out to left in the third, De La Cruz opened the fifth with a 455-foot drive to right-center. He then pointed at the end of his bat before rounding the bases.

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