WASHINGTON – Ryan Zimmerman’s three-run double was the biggest hit in Washington’s big fifth inning Tuesday night, and the Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 in a game between two of the NL’s worst teams.

Washington entered the day at 45-60 and Cincinnati at 45-61 – only Pittsburgh (42-61) was worse in the NL – but neither club made any deals before the deadline for trades without waivers.

So there was Ken Griffey Jr., hitting third and manning right field for the Reds. And there was Adam Dunn, another subject of trade speculation, batting fifth and playing left field.

“There wasn’t anything out there today that was suitable for us, so we passed,” Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said.

For the Nationals, relievers Jon Rauch and Chad Cordero – thought to be available earlier in the day – were in uniform and in the bullpen throughout the evening. Until, that is, Cordero came on for a 1-2-3 ninth inning and his 22nd save.

Rookie Matt Chico (5-6) earned the victory by going five innings. He gave up two runs despite allowing nine hits and three walks.

Cincinnati kept putting runners on base – and then kept leaving them there. The Reds got at least one runner to second base in every inning through the first four, but failed to score.

The Nationals had chances, too, stranding a runner at third in each of the first two innings. In the second, Brian Schneider was held at third base on Nook Logan’s double with two outs and Chico coming up. The pitcher grounded out, drawing some boos.

In the fifth, the Reds finally put something together. It began with Dunn, who snapped an 0-for-13 drought by doubling off the wall in right-center. That was followed by three more hits, including Jeff Conine’s RBI double and Edwin Encarnacion’s RBI single, and the Reds led 2-0.

But that didn’t last long, because Washington sent 10 men to the plate in its half of the fifth and scored five runs, all charged to starter Bobby Livingston (2-2). He left after facing five batters in that inning and retiring none.

Ronnie Belliard singled in a run, bringing up Zimmerman with the bases loaded. His double brought in all three runners to put the hosts ahead 4-2. Todd Coffey replaced Livingston and got two outs before Ryan Church delivered an RBI single to make it 5-2.

After Brandon Phillips’ RBI single off Saul Rivera in the sixth pulled the Reds within 5-3, Church added an RBI double off Jon Coutlangus in the seventh.

Notes: Nationals 2B Belliard made a highlight-reel play in the sixth. Jeff Keppinger hit a bouncer up the middle that deflected off Rivera, forcing Belliard to switch directions. He gloved the ball and, in one motion, spun around and flipped it out of the glove to SS Felipe Lopez for a forceout at second. … Reds SS Alex Gonzalez was activated from the restricted list before the game. The Reds also recalled RHP Elizardo Ramirez and INF Mark Bellhorn from Triple-A Louisville, put INF Juan Castro (elbow) on the 15-day DL (retroactive to July 29), and sent C Chad Moeller to Louisville.

AP-ES-07-31-07 2200EDT