The Reds won their first extra-innings game of the season in spectacular form by a score of 4-5 over Washington on Thursday night.

Bronson Arroyo took the mound for the Reds and worked eight innings, which would turn out to be three fewer than he would have needed for a complete game. He allowed no runs on six hits and a walk, and struck out eight. He left the game with a 0-1 lead.

David Weathers came took over in the ninth, probably due to Arroyo's high pitch count. Weathers blew his third save of the season, giving up one earned run on one hit to tie the game and force the extra innings.

Todd Coffey took the mound in the tenth and held the Nationals hitless. Rick White took over in the eleventh and seemed to make the game a lost cause by giving up three runs (earned) on two hits through two-thirds of an inning. Brian “Love” Shackelford gave up a hit before striking out the final batter. Surprisingly enough, he would end up with the win.

Edwin Encarnación knocked in Felipe Lopez in the fifth inning to provide the Reds only run through regulation play. However, manager Jerry Narron made one of the classic blunders: never get into a land war in Asia, never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line, and never ask David Weathers to protect a one-run lead.

But it was all just to set up the heroics for the eleventh. After White gave up his three runs, the Reds pinch hit Ray Olmedo for David Ross to get the rally going. Little Ray Ray came through with the single to left field. Ryan Freel moved him to third on a single, but moved himself to the dugout by trying to stretch it into a double.

Lopez singled to bring in Olmedo, and Encarnación walked. Ken Griffey, Jr., in his first game off the disabled list for almost a month, hit the 0-1 pitch over the wall in center field. And there was much rejoicing.

The win gave the Reds the series victory over the Nationals and brought their record to 23-12. Friday, they began a three-game series against the Phillies, pitting Elizardo Ramirez against Cole Hamels.