Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Jose Guillen went 2-for-3 with a solo homer to lift the Washington Nationals past the Cincinnati Reds, 5-3, in the middle test of a three-game series at RFK Stadium.

John Patterson (8-4) picked up the win for Washington, allowing three runs and 10 hits in 8 1/3 innings. He also struck out eight batters and walked one to improve to 6-0 in 14 home starts this year.

Chad Cordero came in to close the game out for his major league-leading 40th save of the season.

Vinny Castilla drove in two runs in for the Nationals, who won for just the third time in eight games.

Felipe Lopez ended 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Reds, who were dealt their second loss in six games. Javier Valentin added a two-run homer in the setback.

Ramon Ortiz (8-9) was handed the loss after surrendering two runs and six hits over six innings.

Washington snapped a 1-1 tie on Guillen's leadoff homer in the fifth inning. The blast to left was the 23rd homer of the year for Guillen and gave the Nationals a 2-1 edge.

The score remained that way until the Nationals added three more in the seventh. Brian Schneider stepped to the plate with runners at the corners and two outs and drove in Jose Vidro with a single. Castilla followed with a double to center to drive in two runs and make it 5-1.

In the top half of the seventh, the Reds had the bases loaded with no outs, but came away empty. Edwin Encarnacion hit a grounder to first and Nick Johnson threw home for the force out. Patterson then struck out Jacob Cruz and got Lopez to hit a grounder back to the mound for the final out.

"He had good stuff tonight right from the beginning. He put it all together tonight," said Robinson of Patterson.

Patterson struck out Sean Casey to start the ninth, but was pulled after allowing a double to Austin Kearns and a two-run homer to Valentin. Cordero then came in and struck out the next two batters to end the game.

The Nationals opened the scoring with a run in the first frame. Washington had the bases loaded and Preston Wilson drove in a run with his groundout to second.

Cincinnati evened the score in the fourth inning when Lopez led off with a single and scored on Aurilia's double.

Game Notes

Washington improved to 35-23 at RFK this season...Patterson improved to 2-0 in his career against the Reds...The Reds dropped to 13-5 in their last 18 road games.