Nats aim to keep momentum vs. Reds

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals will look to continue their on-field success and put an end to the clubhouse issues that have taken up a lot of the oxygen at Nationals Park the last few days when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.

The Nationals (54-53) completed a two-game sweep of the New York Mets on Wednesday with a 5-3 win that came hours after general manager Mike Rizzo off-loaded his second relief pitcher in two days.

One day after Brandon Kintzler was sent to Chicago for a Class A pitcher, Shawn Kelley was designated for assignment. In Tuesday's 25-4 rout of the Mets, Kelley gave up a ninth-inning home run, slammed his glove to the ground and glared into the…