Reds 4, Nationals 3 (15): Todd Frazier had three hits, including a tiebreaking two-run homer in the top of the 15th inning, as visiting Cincinnati outlasted Washington in the opener of their three-game series.

The Nationals nearly posted their 14th comeback victory of the season in the bottom of the 14th, when Kevin Frandsen led off with a double and moved to third with two outs, but Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton denied Anthony Rendon of a walk-off hit with a diving catch of a sinking liner. Cincinnati took advantage of its new life in the next inning as Brandon Phillips singled ahead of Frazier, who drilled a 2-1 changeup from Ross Detwiler (0-2) into the seats in left-center.

Logan Ondrusek (1-2) benefited from Hamilton’s defensive gem in the 14th, picking up the win despite allowing Greg Dobbs’ sacrifice fly in the 15th. Frazier scored twice and Chris Heisey also collected three hits for the Reds, while Denard Span and Scott Hairston each knocked in a run for the Nationals.

Washington starter Stephen Strasburg hit Frazier with a pitch with one out in the fourth inning, and Frazier moved to third on Brayan Pena’s single. In the next at-bat, Strasburg bounced a pitch to catcher Wilson Ramos, who was baited by Pena into making a throw to second - allowing Frazier to race home without a play.

Zack Cozart also was hit by a pitch from Strasburg to lead off the fifth and came around to score three batters later on Skip Schumaker’s line-drive single up the middle before Span pushed across Washington’s first run with a two-out base hit in the seventh, ending the night for Reds starter Mike Leake. However, Aroldis Chapman blew his first save chance in three tries when he surrendered Hairston’s sacrifice fly in the ninth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati, which had dropped seven of its previous eight on the road, improved to 4-8 at Nationals Park since the start of 2011. … The Nationals fell to 4-20 when scoring three runs or fewer. … Strasburg has a 2.01 ERA over his last six starts.