Lopez haunts Reds with six-RBI effort

Felipe Lopez has another reason to love the place.

The shortstop had the greatest year of his career at Great American Ball Park in 2005, when he hit a career-high 23 home runs and made the All-Star team with the Cincinnati Reds. In his homecoming with the Washington Nationals, he had another grand moment.

Lopez hit a grand slam in the eighth inning Tuesday night, rallying the Nationals to an 8-4 victory over the team that traded him last July.

He sure misses Cincinnati’s homer-friendly park.

“Oh, of course,” Lopez said. “I love hitting here. You hit balls here that there’s no way they’re going to go out in Washington.”

Lopez connected for his third career grand slam off left-hander Jon Coutlangus (2-1), snapping a 4-4 tie. Lopez also had an RBI double and a run-scoring groundout, matching his career high with six RBIs. Washington’s eight runs were a season high.

Jesus Colome (4-0) took over in the seventh inning and got the win, Washington’s eighth in 12 games. It was a reversal of the series opener Monday night, when the Reds rallied for three runs in the eighth inning and an 8-7 win.