Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Austin Kearns drove in a pair of runs and Ken Griffey Jr. homered to lead the Cincinnati Reds over the Washington Nationals, 5-3, in the finale of a three-game set at RFK Stadium.

Kearns finished 2-for-4 for the Reds, who captured two of the three games in this series. Griffey ended 3-for-5 with two runs scored as Cincinnati won its third in four overall.

Brandon Claussen (9-8) tossed 5 2/3 innings to earn a victory for his fifth straight decision. He yielded just one unearned run on six hits, striking out five and walking two.

Jamey Carroll drove in a run and Brad Wilkerson hit a two-run homer for the Nationals, who have dropped six of their last nine games. Starting pitcher Livan Hernandez (14-6) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on 10 hits in six-plus innings. He struck out five and walked three as the Nationals fell 2 1/2 games behind NL wild card leading Philadelphia.

"We can't keep winning one game in a three-game series," said Nationals second baseman Jose Vidro. "We have to try to win the series or sweep it and we're not doing it."

The Reds got on the board in the first inning when the club loaded the bases and Hernandez walked Kearns to force home a run.

Washington tied the game in the second. Vinny Castilla reached on a one-out fielding error by shortstop Felipe Lopez and then moved to second on a balk by Claussen. Carroll then came through with a two-out double to score Castilla with the tying run.

Cincinnati took the lead for good in the fifth. Griffey came through with a one-out single and moved to third on Sean Casey's base hit. Kearns followed with a single to center to make it a 2-1 contest.

Griffey added a solo homer in the seventh off Hernandez for a two-run cushion. Later in the inning, Adam Dunn, who reached base via a walk by Hernandez that ended his day, scored from third on reliever Hector Carrasco's wild pitch. Jason LaRue added an RBI double for a 5-1 advantage.

Washington made it interesting in the ninth when Wilkerson cracked a two-run homer off Kent Mercker. However, David Weathers came on to get the final two outs for his 11th save of the season.

"If we play the we are supposed to play, we can beat anybody," said Wilkerson. "We just aren't doing that right now."

Game Notes

Prior to the game, the Nationals placed outfielder Ryan Church on the 15-day disabled list with a toe fracture...Washington is expected to recall outfielder Marlon Byrd from Triple-A New Orleans...Casey ended 3- for-4...Carroll finished 2-for-2...Castilla also had two hits for the Nationals...The Reds captured five of the six meetings against the Nationals this season.