It isn’t very often that Great American Ball Park is nearly filled to capacity on a weekday; however, to be fair, Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals came visiting on Wednesday.

After the game on Wednesday between these two squads, I think it is fair to say that neither Strasburg or the Reds’ starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo stood out in any way at all.

Depending on your point of view, either Arroyo was simply outclassed by Strasburg or the Nationals bats came alive. Any way you slice it, Cincinnati was defeated by Washington 8-5.

Things started going south for Arroyo at the fifth inning when Cristian Guzman homered to right, driving home Ian Desmond; Washington would tack on four more in the sixth when Desmond drove home two as did Nyjer Morgan, boosting the Nationals’ lead to 7-1, chasing Arroyo in the process.

Cincinnati would cut into Washington’s advantage as Miguel Cairo hit a 2-run single, bringing home Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. Votto weould ground out and drive home Ryan Hanigan in the seventh, cutting the Nationals’ lead to 7-4.

Chris Heisey singled to center, driving home Drew Stubbs and making it a 7-5 Washington lead in the eighth. the Mationals bullpen shut the Reds down in the ninth, sealing the victory.

Arroyo certainly did not last long as he went 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on six hits, walking three, striking out one and allowing a HR to Guzman.

Of the 10 hits grounded out by Cincinnati, Bruce and Cairo had two apiece with Cairo driving home a pair.

The Reds and Nationals play the final game of their series on Thursday when Edinson Volquez (1-0, 1.50 ERA) starts for Cincinnati while Washington counters with Livan Hernandez (6-6, 3.27 ERA).