Reds 9, Nationals 6: Joey Votto’s third homer of the contest was a game-winning grand slam with two out in the ninth inning to give host Cincinnati a dramatic victory over Washington.

Votto belted a 2-2 pitch from Henry Rodriguez over the wall in center field to give the Reds an improbable victory. The game began with a rain delay of 3 hours, 36 minutes.

Votto, who entered the contest with just two homers this season, hit solo shots in the first and fourth innings off Edwin Jackson. He then capped a 4-for-5 performance with the walk-off blast.

Rodriguez (1-3) allowed a single and two walks in the ninth to set the stage for Votto, who provided Cincinnati with only its second victory against Washington in seven meetings this season.

Sean Marshall (1-2) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for Cincinnati.

The Nationals had 16 hits – seven players had two apiece – and had led since Danny Espinoza’s delivered a two-run double in the fifth to snap a 2-2 tie.

Adam LaRoche’s run-scoring single in the eighth pushed Washington’s lead to 6-3.

The Reds pulled within one in the bottom of the eighth when rookie right fielder Bryce Harper couldn’t find Jay Bruce’s two-out fly ball. It landed well over his head for a two-run double.

Votto hadn’t homered since April 30 before belting the first-inning homer against Jackson, who allowed three runs and five hits in five innings.

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo allowed four runs and 11 hits in five innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: An MRI exam confirmed that Washington catcher Wilson Ramos tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the right knee and catcher Sandy Leon was recalled from Double-A Harrisburg to back up new starter Jesus Flores … Votto has nine career multiple-homer games … Harper was in a 1-for-17 slump before going 2-for-5 … Bruce has eight RBIs over the last six games.