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. Darrell Henderson Jersey . 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. Gerald Everett Youth Jersey . -- Once again, Carlos Santana was a huge hit in Kansas City. Kurt Warner Womens Jersey .J. - Trying to learn and absorb the new West Coast offence being installed by new offensive co-ordinator Ben McAdoo, the New York Giants wrapped their final organized team activity Thursday before a three-day mini-camp next week. http://www.laramsfootballshops.com/torry-holt-jersey/ . Thornton emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends against the run in 2013. The former undrafted free agent from Division II Southern Arkansas led Philadelphias linemen with 78 tackles and had one sack.LONDON -- Mohamed Salah scored one goal and played a part in the other two as Chelsea strolled to a 3-0 victory over Stoke to recover from back-to-back losses and reclaim the provisional Premier League lead Saturday. Even though Jose Mourinho downplays Chelseas title prospects, his team remain in the mix with a relatively undemanding run-in, apart from a trip to Liverpool. And its Liverpool that can ensure Chelseas stay at the top this weekend is short-lived by winning Sunday at West Ham. This was a routine victory for Chelsea against a Stoke side that presented little attacking threat, and Salah profited on his first start since joining from Basel in January. Salah was left unmarked when he netted the opener in the 32nd minute, and after the break the Egypt winger won the penalty that Frank Lampard first saw saved before netting the rebound. Salah set up Willian to curl in Chelseas third in the 72nd to wrap up a fifth consecutive home win, with the team scoring 17 unanswered goals during a formidable period at Stamford Bridge. The problems are away, having lost the last two league games on the road to struggling sides Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, and at Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their quarterfinal on Wednesday. "Away we have some matches where we must change our profile ... and adapt to the situation," Mourinho said. "If I go to a wedding, I dont go in jeans," he added. "And if I leave my house to go for a walk in Hyde Park I dont go in a smoking (jacket)." Mourinho accepted that it took at least 15 minutes for his team to "recover self-esteem and confidence." Not that Fernando Torres seemed to have any. The misfiring striker started up front again after being dropped for the 3-1 loss in Paris, but did little to convince Mourinho that he should be part of the team for next season. After two early efforts there was little danger from the player whose career has been in a downward spiral since joining Chellsea in 2011 for 50 million pounds (then $80 million) from Liverpool. Eric Dickerson Rams Jersey. Torres first struck wide, then had a low close-range effort blocked by Asmir Begovic after Stoke defender Marc Wilson inadvertently chested the ball to him. While Torres has just one goal in 2014, Salah now has two since joining Chelsea in January. From a throw-in, Nemanja Matics cutback reached Salah, who was left completely unchallenged by the Stoke defence to power the ball into the net. "We bought a kid from a different habitat, an Egyptian player playing in Switzerland, we knew the kid was going to take time," Mourinho said of the 21-year-old Salah. "You feel it immediately the connection between him and the crowd." Although Branislav Ivanovic had the ball in the net again for Chelsea before halftime, the goal was ruled out for offside. Instead, the lead was extended after the break, with substitute Eden Hazard involved in the two goals. The penalty was won after the Belgium midfielder flicked the ball onto Salah, who was then brought down by Andy Wilkinson. Although Lampards penalty was saved, he reacted quickly to stab the rebound into the net in the 61st. It was his 250th goal in club football, encompassing his time at West Ham and Swansea before joining Chelsea in 2001. Stokes defence was cut through again with ease for the third goal. Hazard brought the ball forward from inside his own half and squared to Salah. Willian then collected the ball and had time to move forward unchallenged before bending the ball into the top corner. "He was so sharp on the ball," Lampard said of Willian. "The goal was the epitomy of what he does better than anyone I think Ive played with." Whether Chelsea players end up with Premier League winners medals this season remains unclear. Now its about hoping Liverpool slips up at West Ham and then overturning the deficit against PSG on Tuesday and advancing to the Champions League semifinals. ' ' '