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WASHINGTON -- After watching his team commit four errors in a bad loss the night before, after putting Joey Votto on the disabled list before the game, after watching his team go hitless through the first three innings, Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price decided it was time for a pep talk. So he called a team meeting, right there in the dugout before the start of the fourth inning. "You know, sometimes you need a little kick in the butt," shortstop Zack Cozart said. "And he did it." And his team responded. The next two batters scored, supplying all the runs Cincinnati would need Thursday in a 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals that allowed the undermanned Reds to split a six-game road trip. "He really fired this lineup up," first baseman Brayan Pena said. "It was a very, very clutch speech from the skipper. ... I didnt know he could speak like that." Cozart started the inning with a double. Brandon Phillips followed with an RBI single. Devin Mesoraco reached on third baseman Kevin Frandsens error, setting up an RBI single by Pena that scored Phillips. Granted, it was only two runs, but the Reds lead the league in one-run losses. Their offence has been struggling without Votto and Jay Bruce, who came off the DL on Wednesday. The pair of runs were just enough to support Alfredo Simon (6-2), who weathered a 61-minute rain delay to allow one run over seven innings. "We have the ability to do more offensively," Price said. "And we know were better than weve performed. ... We can talk about treading water until we get whole again, but when you look at that lineup, its not a lineup thats going to embarrass me or any opponent. Thats a lineup thats going to go out there and have the ability to score runs." Yet, despite his players glowing words, Price didnt want to connect the dots between his speech and the fourth-inning rally. "I dont really care to talk about it," he said. "We just got together collectively and decided to make a rally. ... Theres nothing really important or significant, to be honest with you." Simon gave up a leadoff homer to Denard Span in the first, worked out of a jam in the second, then allowed only three more baserunners as the Reds took two of three from Washington. Simon threw two innings after the storm. Jonathan Broxton handled the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman pitched a one-two-three ninth for his third save, hitting 103 mph on the stadiums radar gun while striking out Danny Espinosa. Tanner Roark (3-2) allowed six hits and two runs -- one unearned -- over six innings for the Nationals, who have their own share of lineup-depleting injuries and have been just as up-and-down as the Reds. "Right now, were banged up, man," Span said. "Its tough because I still feel like were playing good baseball, even with our circumstances right now." If nothing else, the game was notable because it contained overlapping replay and rain delays. Everyone was awaiting the ruling on a challenge by Price on Todd Fraziers steal attempt in the top of the sixth when the grounds crew came out with the tarp. The four-minute replay delay yielded no change: Frazier was out, as signalled by the four umpires huddled near the third base line in a downpour after players had scampered toward the dugouts. NOTES: Votto has missed six games with a quadriceps strain in his left knee. His move to the DL is retroactive to May 16. ... Bruce was reinstated but did not play. He had arthroscopic surgery May 5 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. ... Reds OF Ryan Ludwick was given the day off because of some swelling just above his kneecap. ... RPH Blake Treinen will be called up to start for the Nationals on Thursday, when they begin a road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. RHP Ryan Mattheus will be sent down the minors to open up the roster spot. . Alvarez hit his first career home run, pitched six innings and hurt his right hamstring while running the bases in the Miami Marlins 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. . He spent the rest of the game making up for lost playing time. Green scored a career-high 36 points, including eight in overtime, and the Phoenix Suns beat Denver 112-107 on Tuesday night to hand the Nuggets their fifth consecutive loss. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Eli ... ls-Jersey/. On July 27 cyclings best-known race will host "La Course by Le Tour de France" -- a one-day womens competition staged hours before Tour riders race on the same circuit to finish the three-week event on Paris Champs-Elysees. . Granada goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez saved Morenos first two headers from corner kicks taken by Sergio Garcia, but the defender beat him on his third try after Garcia found Moreno unmarked at the near post in the 78th minute. . - The fiancee of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is set to ask a judge to throw out allegations that she lied to a grand jury. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Texas Rangers know they have their work cut out for themselves if they want to wrestle the AL West title away from the defending division champion Oakland Athletics. And the Los Angeles Angels arent making it any easier for them. Garrett Richards pitched seven effective innings, and the Angels parlayed three errors and another mammoth home run by Mark Trumbo into five early runs against Derek Holland to beat Texas 8-3 Saturday night. The Rangers fifth loss in six games, coupled with Oaklands 2-1 victory against Houston, put them 1 1-2 games behind the Athletics with 21 remaining. "Their job is to try to spoil us from getting to the playoffs," Holland said. "But no matter who we play, its going to be tough. I dont care if its the Angels or whoever you want to throw out there. Theres not going to be an easy game from here on out, whether theyre a first-place team or a last-place team. Were all competing to get somewhere, and other teams are trying to knock us out." The Angels are 14 1-2 games out of first place despite winning 12 of their last 15 games. And despite the fact that they will miss the post-season for the fourth straight year, they will definitely have a say in the outcome of the division race. The final week of their schedule includes a three-game series at home against Oakland, followed by a four-game set at Texas. "Theyre a good team over there, but were playing good ball right now and every day is a new opportunity to get another W, get some momentum for next year and knock some teams out," Mike Trout said. "If we were playing this kind of ball in April, it would have been a different story now and down the road. But its been one of those years. If you look at our lineup now compared to April, its two different teams. Guys have come up from the minors and are getting an opportunity to play. Were playing together, pitching great and having some fun." Richards (6-6) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and six hits while striking out five and walking one. The right-hander, who finished his night by fanning the side, is 4-0 with a 3.25 ERA in seven starts at home this season. Holland (9-8) was charged with eight runs -- four earned -- and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. He strucck out four and walked one in his sixth attempt to join Kenny Rogers as the only left-handers in the history of the Rangers/Washington Senators franchise with double-digit victories in three consecutive seasons.dddddddddddd. "I didnt pitch very well, and Im very disappointed at the way that I performed," Holland said. "I know Im a better pitcher than I have been performing like for the last two or three outings. Im very frustrated with the way things turned out." Holland, whose last victory was Aug. 4 at Oakland, gave up unearned runs in the first two innings. The Angels took a 3-1 lead in the first after Holland fielded a dribbler toward the first base line by leadoff man J.B. Shuck and committed a two-base throwing error. Shuck advanced on Erick Aybars sacrifice bunt and scored when four-time Gold Glove third baseman Adrian Beltre misplayed Trouts slow bouncer for his 13th error. Trumbo drove the next pitch to centre field for his 31st homer and second in two nights, following a drought of 57 at-bats without one. "Hes having an awesome year," Trout said. "Hes learning a lot of new things this year and making adjustments at the plate. He went through a couple of stretches where he was pressing a little bit, but hes back to being Trumbo and every at bat you look at him and hes got a chance to launch one. So its fun to watch." The Angels blew the game open in the sixth with three more runs that chased Holland. Texas catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who ended the scoring with a leadoff homer in the ninth against Cory Rasmus. NOTES: Trumbo is batting .235 with 20 games remaining. The lowest average by any Angels player who hit at least 30 homers in a season was by 3B Troy Glaus, who batted .250 with 41 homers in 2001 and .250 with 30 homers in 2002. ... Trumbos homer was the 17th allowed by Holland, who set a Rangers club record for lefties last season by giving up 32. ... Rangers manager Ron Washington flip-flopped Leonys Martin and rookie Jurickson Profar in the batting order, putting Profar in the leadoff spot and batting the struggling Martin ninth to take some pressure off him. The move produced a run in the second inning as Martin singled with two out, stole second and scored on Profars single. ' ' '