Ian Desmond hit a RBI single to break a seventh-inning tie, and was then in the center of a wild sacrifice-fly double-play two plays later as the Washington Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2.
Josh Willingham led off the seventh with a single, and Roger Bernadina reached on an error when centerfielder Drew Stubbs collided with left fielder Jonny Gomes. Desmond's RBI single gave Washington a 3-2 lead, and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out.
Willie Harris lifted a short fly ball to center field. Stubb's throw home bounced off the mound and high in the air, allowing Bernadina to score and Desmond took off for third. Desmond beat the throw, but his foot appeared to momentarily come off the bag at the end of his slide. Third base umpire Paul Schrieber ruled Desmond safe. Dusty Baker came out to argue the call and crew chief Joe West, who was working first base, overturned the call. As the Nationals argued the reversal, West threw Desmond out of the game.
Tyler Clippard (8-3) earned the win for working a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one hit. Matt Capps closed the ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances.
Enerio Del Rosario (1-1) took the loss for Cincinnati, who have lost four of their last five games.
Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang, who had lasted at least six innings in his past seven starts, had his shortest outing of the season, giving up two runs on eight hits in four innings.
Washington starter Livan Hernandez gave up two runs on eight hits in six innings. Hernandez got a helping hand by Bernadina's diving catch to end the sixth inning and preserve a 2-all tie.
Ramon Hernandez's RBI single gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Nationals tied the game in the bottom of the inning on Cristian Guzman's bloop run-scoring single into left field.
In the third inning, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn led off with back-to-back singles, and Bernadina put the Nationals ahead 2-1 with an one-out RBI single. Brandon Phillips tied the game at 2 in the fifth inning with an RBI single.
NOTES: Nationals C Ivan Rodriguez, on the disabled list since May 24 (lower back strain), could return by Tuesday, according to manager Jim Riggleman. Riggleman said Rodriguez would first make a rehab appearance with Single-A Potomac and the schedule for his return would be set this weekend. ... Cincinnati RHP Homer Bailey threw a bullpen session Friday. Bailey, who has been on the DL since May 24 (right shoulder) said he felt good after throwing. ... Several Reds, including Harang, visited wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Friday morning. ... The crowd of 33,774 was the largest at Nationals Park since opening day. Ticket sales had been fueled by widespread speculation 2009 No. 1 draft choice Stephen Strasburg would make his Washington debut against the Reds until the Nationals announced Monday he would debut on June 8.
