GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (68-88) at CINCINNATI (71-85)

NL: HOUSTON (68-88) at CINCINNATI (71-85)

<h3>Road-weary Astros head to Cincinnati</h3>



<div class="pre">Houston (68-88) at Cincinnati (71-85) 7:10 pm EDT</div>

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Mercifully, the Houston Astros begin theirfinal road series of the season on Tuesday when they travel toCincinnati for a three-game set.


The Astros are a National League-worst 28-50 away from home thisseason, but the good news is that they be playing a Reds teamthat they've beaten in eight of 12 times this season - theirmost wins against any club in 2007.


With nothing to play for, both teams are using the remainder ofthe season to assess their younger talent.


The Astros send rookie Felipe Paulino (0-1, 11.25 ERA) to themound for his second career start. His first start on September18 against the Milwaukee Brewers did not go well as therighthander allowed five runs in four innings during a 9-1 loss.

Homer Bailey gets the call for the Reds (3-2, 6.09), who willmiss the postseason for the 12th consecutive year.

The 21-year-old righthander, a first round pick in 2004, ismaking his second start since being recalled from the minorleagues. He was optioned to Class AAA Louisville in July andsuffered a groin injury during that minor league stint.

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON AT CINCINNATI -- LINEUPS

HOUSTON CINCINNATI
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Josh Anderson CF .396 0 9 Norris Hopper CF .336 0 12
Craig Biggio 2B .249 10 48 Jeff Keppinger SS .342 5 32
Lance Berkman 1B .274 31 95 Joey Votto LF .339 2 11
Carlos Lee LF .300 31 115 Brandon Phillips 2B .290 29 92
Hunter Pence RF .322 15 63 Edwin Encarnacion 3B .293 15 74
Ty Wigginton 3B .295 6 17 Javier Valentin C .277 2 33
Cody Ransom SS .308 1 3 Jorge Cantu 1B .326 1 8
J.R. Towles C .417 1 11 Jason Ellison RF .167 1 2
Felipe Paulino RHP .000 0 0 Homer Bailey RHP .286 0 0
(0-1, 11.25) (3-2, 6.09)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
WARMUPS: HOU - FELIPE PAULINO (0-1, 11.25)
CIN - HOMER BAILEY (3-2, 6.09)

UMPIRES: HP - CHRIS GUCCIONE
1B - KERWIN DANLEY
2B - DOUG EDDINGS
3B - MIKE EVERITT

WEATHER: 81 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 1 mph, out to right</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 18 MINUTE DELAY.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: HOU - FELIPE PAULINO (0-1, 11.25)
CIN - HOMER BAILEY (3-2, 6.09)

UMPIRES: HP - CHRIS GUCCIONE
1B - KERWIN DANLEY
2B - DOUG EDDINGS
3B - MIKE EVERITT

WEATHER: 81 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 1 mph, out to right</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
STARTING BATS: HOU - FELIPE PAULINO AND J.R. TOWLES
CIN - HOMER BAILEY AND JAVIER VALENTIN

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J ANDERSON (.396, 0 HR, 9 RBI)
C BIGGIO (.249, 10 HR, 48 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.274, 31 HR, 95 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY CRAIG BIGGIO SCORED JOSH ANDERSON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
CINCINNATI 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.274, 31 HR, 95 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 1 1 1 0
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - FELIPE PAULINO
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: N HOPPER (.336, 0 HR, 12 RBI)
J KEPPINGER (.342, 5 HR, 32 RBI)
J VOTTO (.339, 2 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS CINCINNATI (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .396
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .249
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
C Lee lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
H Pence rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .322
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .293
C Ransom ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
J Towles c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417
F Paulino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 1 1 1 1 1 2

BATTING: SF - C Biggio. RBI - C Biggio (49). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Anderson (1, 2nd base off H Bailey/J Valentin).


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
J Keppinger ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
J Votto lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
B Phillips 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Valentin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Cantu 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
H Bailey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - J Valentin.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 1 -- 1
CINCINNATI - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
F Paulino 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11.25

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 6.17

HBP - J Anderson (by H Bailey). Pitches-strikes: H Bailey 18-9. Ground
balls-fly balls: H Bailey 0-2. Batters faced: H Bailey 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Kerwin Danley. 2B--Doug Eddings. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

(Plus rain delay totaling 18 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 77 degrees,
cloudy. Wind: 1 mph, out to right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - FELIPE PAULINO
CIN - HOMER BAILEY</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JOEY VOTTO (3) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
1ST OFF FELIPE PAULINO.
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1, CINCINNATI 1

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: B PHILLIPS (.290, 29 HR, 92 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 1 1 1 0
CINCINNATI 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - FELIPE PAULINO
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C RANSOM (.308, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
J TOWLES (.417, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
F PAULINO (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS CINCINNATI (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .396
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .249
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
C Lee lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
H Pence rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .322
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .293
C Ransom ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
J Towles c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417
F Paulino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 1 1 1 1 1 2

BATTING: SF - C Biggio. RBI - C Biggio (49). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Anderson (1, 2nd base off H Bailey/J Valentin).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Ransom-C Biggio-L Berkman).


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .338
J Keppinger ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .341
J Votto lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .350
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Valentin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Cantu 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
H Bailey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - J Votto (3, 1st inning off F Paulino 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Votto
(12). 2-out RBI - J Votto. GIDP - J Keppinger. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - J Valentin.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 1 -- 1
CINCINNATI - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
F Paulino 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 11.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 6.17

HBP - J Anderson (by H Bailey). Pitches-strikes: F Paulino 15-10; H Bailey
18-9. Ground balls-fly balls: F Paulino 2-1; H Bailey 0-2. Batters faced: F
Paulino 4; H Bailey 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Kerwin Danley. 2B--Doug Eddings. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

(Plus rain delay totaling 18 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 77 degrees,
cloudy. Wind: 1 mph, out to right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 1 0 1 1 0
CINCINNATI 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - FELIPE PAULINO
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: E ENCARNACION (.293, 15 HR, 74 RBI)
J VALENTIN (.277, 2 HR, 33 RBI)
J CANTU (.326, 1 HR, 8 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS CINCINNATI (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .396
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .249
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
C Lee lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
H Pence rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .322
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .293
C Ransom ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Towles c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
F Paulino p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000

Totals 6 1 1 1 1 2 2

BATTING: SF - C Biggio. RBI - C Biggio (49). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Anderson (1, 2nd base off H Bailey/J Valentin).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Ransom-C Biggio-L Berkman).


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .338
J Keppinger ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .341
J Votto lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .350
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Valentin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Cantu 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
H Bailey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - J Votto (3, 1st inning off F Paulino 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Votto
(12). 2-out RBI - J Votto. GIDP - J Keppinger. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - J Valentin.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 10 -- 1
CINCINNATI - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
F Paulino 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 11.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 6.00

HBP - J Anderson (by H Bailey). Pitches-strikes: F Paulino 15-10; H Bailey
28-18. Ground balls-fly balls: F Paulino 2-1; H Bailey 1-3. Batters faced: F
Paulino 4; H Bailey 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Kerwin Danley. 2B--Doug Eddings. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

(Plus rain delay totaling 18 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 77 degrees,
cloudy. Wind: 1 mph, out to right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY HOMER BAILEY SCORED JAVIER VALENTIN AND JORGE
CANTU.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, H BAILEY ON SECOND, J ELLISON ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
CINCINNATI 3 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: N HOPPER (.338, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY NORRIS HOPPER SCORED JASON ELLISON AND HOMER
BAILEY.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, N HOPPER ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
CINCINNATI 5 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J KEPPINGER (.341, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 1 0 1 1 0
CINCINNATI 1 4 5 6 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - FELIPE PAULINO
CIN - HOMER BAILEY

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J ANDERSON (.396, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
C BIGGIO (.249, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)
L BERKMAN (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS CINCINNATI (5) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .396
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .249
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
C Lee lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
H Pence rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .322
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .293
C Ransom ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Towles c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
F Paulino p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000

Totals 6 1 1 1 1 2 2

BATTING: SF - C Biggio. RBI - C Biggio (49). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Anderson (1, 2nd base off H Bailey/J Valentin).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Ransom-C Biggio-L Berkman).


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 .340
J Keppinger ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .339
J Votto lf 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .344
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Valentin c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .280
J Cantu 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .341
J Ellison rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .167
H Bailey p 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .375

Totals 11 5 6 5 1 0 2

BATTING: 2B - J Cantu (7, F Paulino); H Bailey (1, F Paulino); N Hopper (14, F
Paulino). HR - J Votto (3, 1st inning off F Paulino 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Votto
(12), H Bailey 2 (2), N Hopper 2 (14). 2-out RBI - J Votto. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Votto 1. GIDP - J Keppinger. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: PB - J Valentin.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 10 -- 1
CINCINNATI - 14 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
F Paulino 2 6 5 5 1 0 1 13.50

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 6.00

HBP - J Anderson (by H Bailey). Pitches-strikes: F Paulino 43-29; H Bailey
28-18. Ground balls-fly balls: F Paulino 4-2; H Bailey 1-3. Batters faced: F
Paulino 12; H Bailey 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Kerwin Danley. 2B--Doug Eddings. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

(Plus rain delay totaling 18 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 77 degrees,
cloudy. Wind: 1 mph, out to right.</div>