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Biggio helps lead Astros over Reds

Sep 26, 2007 - 4:01 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- In a game that featured plenty of rookies, it was a 20-year veteran that proved to be the difference.

Craig Biggio had two RBI, including the go-ahead single in the top of the sixth inning, to help lead the Houston Astros to an 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

Rookie Josh Anderson had two RBI and fellow rookie Hunter Pence added a solo home run and two RBI for the Astros, who beat the Reds for the ninth time in 13 games this season.

With Houston trailing, 5-4, and nobody on base in the top of the sixth, J.R. Towles reached on an error by Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion to keep the inning alive and knock out Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey.

The Astros took advantage with three straight singles - two off reliever Jon Coutlangus - to take the lead. Anderson tied the game with an RBI single to left and Biggio followed with a run-scoring single to right, giving Houston a 6-5 advantage.

Houston interim manager Cecil Cooper is happy to be connected with Biggio.

"He's had a tremendous, tremendous career," Cooper said. "He's a special guy. It has been fun to be around him the last three years and now I can say I managed him. But the young kids never gave up. They don't quit. Sometimes you need young guys to add a little excitement."

Biggio, who had recorded his 3,056th hit to break a tie with Ricky Henderson for 20th on the all-time list, announced earlier in the year that he will retire at the end of this season.

"It's nice," Biggio said. "I never really thought about it much but it's pretty special to be in the company of Ricky and Rod Carew (3,053). I played against Ricky. Who knows how long it will last but it's nice to be there for a while."

Astros rookie starter Felipe Paulino (1-1) earned his first major league win, allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked one.

"He got the ball up that one inning (the second), and when you do that in the big leagues you get hit," Cooper said. "But after that there was nothing. He started to get the ball down. It will help his confidence level, which was high to begin with."

Dave Borkowski pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Chad Qualls followed with a scoreless eighth for Houston. Brad Lidge worked the ninth and struck out rookie Joey Votto with the bases loaded for his 17th save.

Norris Hopper had two hits and two RBI for the Reds, who have lost three games in a row.

Bailey tossed 5 2/3 innings, yielding five runs - two earned - and three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Coutlangus (4-2), who came on in relief of Bailey in the sixth, faced two hitters without recording an out, giving up two hits and one earned run.

After Biggio's sacrifice fly put Houston in front in the top of the first, Votto tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom half on a solo home run to left-center field.

The Reds scored four times in the bottom of the second inning to take a 5-1 lead. Bailey helped his own cause by lining a two-run double to right field and Hopper followed with a two-run double to center.

"I didn't even see the pitch," Bailey said. "I didn't hit the ball. The ball hit my bat. I was running and said it has a chance to fall."

Lance Berkman's RBI double in the top of the third cut Houston's deficit to 5-2 and the Astros added two more runs in the top of the fourth. Towles lined an RBI double to left and, two batters later, Anderson plated Towles on a sacrifice fly.

Pence homered in the top of the seventh and hit an RBI single in the ninth to provide the Astros with insurance and cap the scoring.

The Reds played without slugger Adam Dunn, who will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday. Cincinnati holds an option on Dunn for next season, and his future with the organization is unclear.

Dunn's absence gives the Reds a chance to play Votto in left field.

His error in the fourth inning opened the door for Houston to score two unearned runs

"We are without two boppers, (Ken) Griffey and Dunn," Cincinnati interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "We wanted to see Votto in the outfield. We need to see if he is capable of playing there. Bailey wasn't as sharp as he was last time but I was pleased with the way he pitched.

"It's pitching and defense, and our defense let us down."