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Reds top Astros in Bailey's 2011 debut

May 5, 2011 - 10:01 PM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Ryan Hanigan went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, as the Cincinnati Reds earned a 10-4 decision over Houston in the rubber match of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Jay Bruce turned in a three-hit game with a solo homer and three runs scored for the Reds, who won consecutive games for the first time since April 11-12 at San Diego. Fred Lewis added a pinch-hit solo shot for the victors.

Homer Bailey (1-0), making his first start of the 2011 season, worked six solid innings, allowing one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. He did walk one. The right-hander was activated off the 15-day disabled list prior to the game with an impingement in his pitching shoulder he suffered in spring training. He made 19 starts for the Reds last season, going 4-3 with a 4.46 earned run average.

"It was good to get back into the game, to be a part of this team again and go out there and compete with those guys. They had my back so well," Bailey said about his teammates.

Hunter Pence went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Jason Bourgeois drove in the other run for Houston, which has dropped two straight after a three-game winning streak.

Brett Myers (1-2) was touched for nine hits and six runs in 5 2/3 innings. The veteran righty struck out four and walked three.

"It didn't appear that he had his best stuff, but it was sure nice to see him battle all the way through it," Astros manager Brad Mills said about Myers.

Hanigan's run-scoring single to right in the second gave Cincinnati the early lead.

With the bases loaded in the fourth, Hanigan again stepped up and lined a two- run single to left to make it a 3-0 game.

Chris Heisey reached with a bunt single leading off the fifth, stole second and came around to score on a base hit by Edgar Renteria.

Pence's RBI double to center in the sixth got the Astros on the board, but Paul Janish's sac fly and homer by Lewis in the home half put Cincinnati up 6-1.

Bourgeois drew a bases loaded walk and Pence's two-run single off Aroldis Chapman in the seventh cut the Houston deficit to 6-4. Chapman was replaced by Bill Bray, who got Brett Wallace to ground out to prevent further damage.

Nick Masset worked a perfect top of the eighth and the Reds tacked on four more in the bottom portion. Bruce led off the frame with a solo homer to right and later, Drew Stubbs' RBI double, a sac fly from Heisey and run-scoring single by Renteria made it 10-4.

Sam LeCure came on to throw a 1-2-3 ninth to finish off the victory.

Game Notes

Prior to the game, the Reds optioned pitcher Jordan Smith to Triple-A Louisville to make room on the roster for Bailey...Astros left fielder Carlos Lee missed his third straight game with sore left ribs and is listed as day-to-day. Lee suffered the injury on Sunday, when he collided with teammate Angel Sanchez while pursuing a fly ball...Cincinnati took two of three from the Astros earlier in the season...Astros second baseman Bill Hall was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes...Reds first baseman Joey Votto went 1-for-5 with a run scored and has now reached base safely in 31 straight games.