WASHINGTON -AP- Danny Espinosa hit a grand slam and a three-run homer to finish with a career-high seven RBI, and the Washington Nationals cruised past the Cincinnati Reds 13-4 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.Espinosa's second career slam put Washington up 8-1 in the third inning, and his next drive made it 13-1 in the fourth. Espinosa ranks second on the team with 15 homers despite usually batting eighth.The switch-hitting shortstop connected off Brandon Finnegan (3-7) batting right-handed, then went deep from the left side against Josh Smith. 
Espinosa's previous career high for RBI was six, and his only other grand slam came in his fifth major league game on Sept. 6, 2010.Gio Gonzalez (4-7) gave up four runs and struck out nine over six innings for the NL East-leading Nationals, whose current winning streak comes on the heels of a seven-game skid. Gonzalez was 0-6 with an 8.44 ERA in his previous seven starts.Ryan Zimmerman got the rout started with a three-run homer in the first inning against the lowly Reds, who have lost eight of nine.Joey Votto homered for Cincinnati, which has yielded 40 runs in its last four games -- all of them defeats.Espinosa's slam chased Finnegan, who surrendered eight runs, five hits and five walks in 2 1/3 innings.Smith provided little relief, giving up five runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings.Washington tied a season high for runs in a game without receiving a contribution from reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper, who was given the night off by manager Dusty Baker."His legs are a little tired," Baker said, noting that Harper twisted his ankle earlier in the week. "He's been playing through things the last couple days."
Espinosa's previous career high for RBI was six, and his only other grand slam came in his fifth major league game on Sept. 6, 2010.Gio Gonzalez (4-7) gave up four runs and struck out nine over six innings for the NL East-leading Nationals, whose current winning streak comes on the heels of a seven-game skid. Gonzalez was 0-6 with an 8.44 ERA in his previous seven starts.Ryan Zimmerman got the rout started with a three-run homer in the first inning against the lowly Reds, who have lost eight of nine.Joey Votto homered for Cincinnati, which has yielded 40 runs in its last four games -- all of them defeats.Espinosa's slam chased Finnegan, who surrendered eight runs, five hits and five walks in 2 1/3 innings.Smith provided little relief, giving up five runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings.Washington tied a season high for runs in a game without receiving a contribution from reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper, who was given the night off by manager Dusty Baker."His legs are a little tired," Baker said, noting that Harper twisted his ankle earlier in the week. "He's been playing through things the last couple days."
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