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. Padres Jerseys 2020 . Pearce had a career-high four hits and drove in two runs, and Wei-Yin Chen shut down Texas again as the Orioles completed a four-game sweep of the Rangers with a 5-2 victory on Thursday night. Stitched Padres Jerseys . The cause of his death is as of yet undetermined, but police said foul play is not suspected. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/ . Coach Randy Carlyle didnt know the severity of Bozaks injury. Bozak left the bench and went down the tunnel early in the second period, returned to play a handful of shifts and then did play in the third. San Diego Padres Gear . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Wholesale Padres Jerseys .Gasol had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and the Bulls beat the winless Orlando Magic 98-90 on Tuesday night.Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 21 points and Taj Gibson added 16 for Chicago, which finally pulled away in the final minutes of a game that was tied after three quarters.Sacramento, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Rudy Gay scored 29 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 101-92 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday. Darren Collison had 16 points and six assists, while rookie Nik Stauskas broke out of a slump with 15 points and eight rebounds for the Kings, who are back above .500 again after dropping five of their last six games. Its about time something went in for me, Stauskas said. Its good to have a smile on my face and enjoy playing basketball again. Gordon Hayward finished with 19 points and seven helpers, while Alec Burks and Trey Burke scored 16 and 13 points, respectively, for Utah, which lost its ninth straight game. With the game tied at 68-68 heading into the final stanza, Burks two free throws gave Utah a brief lead before the Kings pulled away with a 12-0 run. Stauskas and Williams each provided five points during the spurt to make it an 80-70 game with 8:19 to go. Utah whittled the deficit down to three points twice, but Sacramento had an answer each time as Stauskas three-point play with just over three minutes to play gave the Kings enough of a cusshion to hold on for the win.dddddddddddd The Jazz used a 12-2 run, which was capped by Burkes jumper, to take a 19-4 lead with under five minutes to play in the opening stanza. Hayward knocked down a trey with 1.3 seconds remaining as the Jazz took a 31-23 lead into the second quarter. Stauskas jumper put the finishing touches on an 8-0 run that gave the Kings a 44-41 lead. Sacramento ended the half with back-to-back dunks courtesy of Gay and Ben McLemore for a 55-49 score heading into the break Utah got within a point after a pair of Burks free throws for a 60-59 game less than three minutes into the third and Rudy Gobert slammed his own rebound to give the Jazz a 67-66 edge. Game Notes The Jazz havent lost nine in a row since March 4-19, 2005 ... Sacramento has won five of its last seven games as the host in the series ... Kings center DeMarcus Cousins missed his sixth straight game due to a viral infection ... Kings forward Reggie Evans had a game-high 13 boards ... Sacramento shot 47.3 percent from the floor, while Utah shot 40.5 percent. ' ' '