Final
Reds-Astros Preview
Sep 26, 2009 - 4:43 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS WriterCincinnati (72-81) at Houston (71-81), 7:05 p.m. EDT
The Cincinnati Reds are almost certainly en route to a ninth straight losing season, but their impressive late-season run is providing reason for optimism.
It has also vaulted them past the plummeting Houston Astros in the standings, and the Reds will go for a sixth straight win overall - and ninth in a row over the Astros - as they continue their series Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
Cincinnati needs to win its final eight games to finish at .500, but the club's 22-10 mark since Aug. 23 is the best record in the NL over that span.
The Reds (73-81) have used a powerful offense, scoring 44 runs during their latest winning streak. Joey Votto is 11 for 21 with seven doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs in those games, and he had a homer and four RBIs in Friday's 10-4 win.
"We swung the bats ... If you get a pitcher a lead, it helps a lot," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.
Along with Votto's surge, Baker has seen progress from some young players. Rookie Drew Stubbs is 13 for 39 with three homers in his last nine games, while Juan Francisco - playing in place of Scott Rolen (back) - had three hits Friday in just his second major league start.
Justin Lehr (4-2, 5.30 ERA) has been a happy recipient of some of the run support, going 2-1 despite a 7.33 ERA in his last four starts. He hasn't pitched since Sept. 16, when he allowed five home runs among 11 hits in five innings against Houston but did not get a decision in Cincinnati's 6-5 win.
Jeff Keppinger went deep twice against Lehr, who matched the season high for home runs allowed by one pitcher in a single game.
"Those balls were up and out over the plate," Baker said. "I don't think I've seen a team give up five solo homers and end up winning the game."
While the Reds have scored 25 runs in Lehr's 23 1-3 innings over his last four starts, Felipe Paulino hasn't gotten a single run of support from the Astros in his 23 innings this month. He's 0-4 in that stretch despite a respectable 3.52 ERA.
"I just try to keep my head up and do something good," Paulino told the Astros' official Web site. "Someday it is going to change for me."
Paulino (2-10, 6.06) hasn't faced the Reds since May 27, but he's received similar efforts from his offense in three starts versus Cincinnati this year. He's gotten a total of two runs of support in those outings, going 0-2 with a 2.55 ERA.
The Astros (71-82) are 3-11 against the Reds this year and 1-3 overall since manager Cecil Cooper was fired and replaced with Dave Clark on Monday.
- Astros 4, Reds 10 - FINAL
CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Stubbs cf 4 0 0 0 1 2 1 .261
P Janish ss 5 0 0 0 0 1 2 .217
J Votto 1b 4 3 3 0 1 0 0 .319
B Phillips 2b 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 .279
J Bruce rf 3 3 2 3 2 0 0 .221
J Francisco 3b 5 1 2 2 0 2 1 .444
L Nix lf
Sep 26 9:51 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JAY BRUCE (20) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 9TH OFF JEFF FULCHINO SCORED JOEY VOTTO.
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 10, HOUSTON 4
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J FRANCISCO (.471, 2-FOR-4, 2 RBI)
Reds 10, Astros 4 Top 9, 0 OutsSep 26 9:42 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND DP BY LANCE BERKMAN SCORED MICHAEL BOURN
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 8
HOUSTON 4 BOTTOM,5TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.303, 0-FOR-2)
Reds 8, Astros 4 Bot 5, 0 OutsSep 26 8:40 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MIGUEL TEJADA SCORED EDWIN MAYSONET
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M TEJADA ON FIRST, M BOURN ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 8
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM,5TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.270, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Reds 8, Astros 3 Bot 5, 0 OutsSep 26 8:38 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY CORKY MILLER SCORED LAYNCE NIX AND JAY BRUCE
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C MILLER ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 8
HOUSTON 2 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J LEHR (.105, 0-FOR-2)
Reds 8, Astros 2 Top 5, 0 OutsSep 26 8:31 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JAY BRUCE SCORED JOEY VOTTO
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BRUCE ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 6
HOUSTON 2 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J FRANCISCO (.533, 2-FOR-2, 2 RBI)
Reds 6, Astros 2 Top 5, 0 OutsSep 26 8:27 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MIGUEL TEJADA (13) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1
OUT IN THE 3RD OFF JUSTIN LEHR.
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 5, HOUSTON 2
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.270, 0-FOR-1)
Reds 5, Astros 2 Bot 3, 0 OutsSep 26 8:00 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY LAYNCE NIX SCORED JAY BRUCE
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J FRANCISCO ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 5
HOUSTON 1 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: C MILLER (.184, 1-FOR-1)
Reds 5, Astros 1 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 26 7:54 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JUAN FRANCISCO SCORED BRANDON PHILLIPS AND JOEY
VOTTO
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J FRANCISCO ON FIRST, J BRUCE ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 4
HOUSTON 1 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: L NIX (.241, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI)
Reds 4, Astros 1 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 26 7:53 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY HUNTER PENCE (25) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF JUSTIN LEHR.
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 1
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: K MATSUI (.254, 8 HR, 42 RBI)
Reds 2, Astros 1 Bot 2, 0 OutsSep 26 7:36 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY LAYNCE NIX (14) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF FELIPE PAULINO SCORED JUAN FRANCISCO.
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 0
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: C MILLER (.167, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
Reds 2, Astros 0 Top 2, 0 OutsSep 26 7:27 PM
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