Matt Adams homered and knocked in two runs, and Anthony Rendon and Wilmer Difo each added two RBIs as the Washington Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-2 Saturday night and earned a split of their day-night doubleheader at Nationals Park.

The Reds scored a 7-1 victory in the afternoon game. Washington has won two of the first three games in this series.

Adams (2-for-3), Rendon (3-for-5) and Difo (2-for-4) led the way on offense as each knocked in two runs. Juan Soto also helped by going 2-for-4 with three runs scored.

Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (5-2) recorded the win, allowing two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

Cincinnati starter Matt Harvey (5-7) lasted four innings plus one batter. The right-hander allowed five runs on nine hits and struggled throughout.

Jose Peraza gave the Reds a quick 1-0 lead by homering on the game's second pitch. But the Nationals tied it in the bottom of the first when Rendon recorded the first of his two RBI doubles.

Difo gave the Nationals the lead in the second with his RBI single, and Adams made it 3-1 in the third on his double to right.

Eugenio Suarez hit a solo homer for the Reds in the top of the fourth before Rendon came up with his second RBI double, this time to left, for a Washington 4-2 lead.

The Nationals added two more in the fifth. Adams put Washington up 5-2 with a solo homer before Difo later doubled in a run.

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart was thrown out by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher while Adams was starting to run the bases after the homer.

Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper was pulled in the top of the seventh after being hit on the right leg/shin by an Austin Brice pitch in the sixth. Harper appeared to be limping or in pain while running for Mason Williams' double that started the seventh, and manager Davey Martinez replaced him with Adam Eaton.

-Field Level Media