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

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (8) AT CINCINNATI (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
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HOUSTON 1ST: J Anderson hit by pitch. J Anderson stole second. J Anderson
to third on passed ball by J Valentin. C Biggio hit sacrifice fly to center,
J Anderson scored. L Berkman struck out swinging. C Lee singled to left.
H Pence walked, C Lee to second. T Wigginton flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 1ST: N Hopper singled to shallow right. J Keppinger grounded
into double play, shortstop to second to first, N Hopper out at second. J Votto
homered to left. B Phillips lined out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 1, CINCINNATI 1.

CINCINNATI 2ND: E Encarnacion flied out to left. J Valentin singled to
right. J Cantu doubled to left, J Valentin to third. J Ellison walked.
H Bailey doubled to deep right, J Valentin and J Cantu scored, J Ellison to
third. N Hopper doubled to center, J Ellison and H Bailey scored. J Keppinger
grounded out to first, N Hopper to third. J Votto grounded out to third.
(4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 3RD: J Anderson flied out to left. C Biggio walked. C Biggio to
second on wild pitch by H Bailey. L Berkman doubled to deep left center,
C Biggio scored. C Lee popped out to second. H Pence struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 4TH: T Wigginton safe at second on error by left fielder J Votto.
C Ransom struck out swinging. J Towles doubled to left, T Wigginton scored.
F Paulino grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Towles to third.
J Anderson hit sacrifice fly to center, J Towles scored. C Biggio struck out
swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 4, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 6TH: T Wigginton fouled out to first. C Ransom flied out to
center. J Towles safe at first on error by third baseman E Encarnacion.
L Scott hit for F Paulino. J Coutlangus relieved H Bailey. L Scott singled to
center, J Towles to third. J Anderson singled to left, J Towles scored,
L Scott to second. G Majewski relieved J Coutlangus. C Biggio singled to right,
L Scott scored, J Anderson to third. L Berkman walked, C Biggio to second.
C Lee flied out to center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 6, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 7TH: H Pence homered to left. T Wigginton grounded out to
shortstop. C Ransom struck out swinging. J Towles grounded out to third.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 7, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 9TH: M McBeth relieved B Bray. L Berkman doubled to deep right.
C Lee singled to right, L Berkman to third. E Bruntlett ran for C Lee. H Pence
singled to left, L Berkman scored, E Bruntlett to second. T Wigginton lined
out to left, E Bruntlett to third. B Salmon relieved M McBeth. C Ransom struck
out swinging. J Towles flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 8, CINCINNATI 5.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (8) AT CINCINNATI (5) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Houston Starting Lineups -- J Anderson CF, C Biggio 2B, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
H Pence RF, T Wigginton 3B, C Ransom SS, J Towles C, F Paulino RHP.

Cincinnati Starting Lineups -- N Hopper CF, J Keppinger SS, J Votto LF,
B Phillips 2B, E Encarnacion 3B, J Valentin C, J Cantu 1B, J Ellison RF,
H Bailey RHP.

Umpires -- Chris Guccione (HP), Kerwin Danley (1B), Doug Eddings (2B),
Mike Everitt (3B).

Gametime Weather: 77 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to right at 1 mph.


HOUSTON 1ST: J Anderson hit by pitch. J Anderson stole second. J Anderson
to third on passed ball by J Valentin. C Biggio hit sacrifice fly to center,
J Anderson scored. L Berkman struck out swinging. C Lee singled to left.
H Pence walked, C Lee to second. T Wigginton flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 1ST: N Hopper singled to shallow right. J Keppinger grounded
into double play, shortstop to second to first, N Hopper out at second. J Votto
homered to left. B Phillips lined out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 1, CINCINNATI 1.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Ransom flied out to center. J Towles grounded out to shortstop.
F Paulino struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CINCINNATI 1.

CINCINNATI 2ND: E Encarnacion flied out to left. J Valentin singled to
right. J Cantu doubled to left, J Valentin to third. J Ellison walked.
H Bailey doubled to deep right, J Valentin and J Cantu scored, J Ellison to
third. N Hopper doubled to center, J Ellison and H Bailey scored. J Keppinger
grounded out to first, N Hopper to third. J Votto grounded out to third.
(4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 3RD: J Anderson flied out to left. C Biggio walked. C Biggio to
second on wild pitch by H Bailey. L Berkman doubled to deep left center,
C Biggio scored. C Lee popped out to second. H Pence struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, CINCINNATI 5.

CINCINNATI 3RD: B Phillips singled to right. E Encarnacion flied out to
left. J Valentin struck out swinging. J Cantu grounded out to pitcher.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 4TH: T Wigginton safe at second on error by left fielder J Votto.
C Ransom struck out swinging. J Towles doubled to left, T Wigginton scored.
F Paulino grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Towles to third.
J Anderson hit sacrifice fly to center, J Towles scored. C Biggio struck out
swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 4, CINCINNATI 5.

CINCINNATI 4TH: J Ellison popped out to shortstop. H Bailey struck out
swinging. N Hopper grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 4, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 5TH: L Berkman grounded out to second. C Lee flied out to left.
H Pence flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 4, CINCINNATI 5.

CINCINNATI 5TH: J Keppinger singled to left. J Votto flied out to center.
B Phillips grounded into fielder's choice to third, J Keppinger out at second.
E Encarnacion fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 4,
CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 6TH: T Wigginton fouled out to first. C Ransom flied out to
center. J Towles safe at first on error by third baseman E Encarnacion.
L Scott hit for F Paulino. J Coutlangus relieved H Bailey. L Scott singled to
center, J Towles to third. J Anderson singled to left, J Towles scored,
L Scott to second. G Majewski relieved J Coutlangus. C Biggio singled to right,
L Scott scored, J Anderson to third. L Berkman walked, C Biggio to second.
C Lee flied out to center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 6, CINCINNATI 5.

CINCINNATI 6TH: D Borkowski relieved F Paulino. J Valentin fouled out to
third. J Cantu grounded out to third. J Ellison popped out to second.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 6, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 7TH: H Pence homered to left. T Wigginton grounded out to shortstop.
C Ransom struck out swinging. J Towles grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 7, CINCINNATI 5.

CINCINNATI 7TH: A Gonzalez hit for G Majewski. A Gonzalez flied out to
center. N Hopper grounded out to second. J Keppinger walked. J Votto struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 7, CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 8TH: B Bray relieved G Majewski. C Burke hit for D Borkowski.
C Burke struck out swinging. J Anderson grounded out to pitcher. C Biggio
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 7, CINCINNATI 5.

CINCINNATI 8TH: C Qualls relieved D Borkowski. C Burke at second base.
B Phillips flied out to center. E Encarnacion grounded out to shortstop.
J Valentin grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 7,
CINCINNATI 5.

HOUSTON 9TH: M McBeth relieved B Bray. L Berkman doubled to deep right.
C Lee singled to right, L Berkman to third. E Bruntlett ran for C Lee. H Pence
singled to left, L Berkman scored, E Bruntlett to second. T Wigginton lined
out to left, E Bruntlett to third. B Salmon relieved M McBeth. C Ransom struck
out swinging. J Towles flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 8, CINCINNATI 5.

CINCINNATI 9TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. E Bruntlett in left field.
J Cantu hit by pitch. J Ellison struck out swinging. B Coats hit for B Salmon.
J Cantu to second on wild pitch by B Lidge. B Coats struck out swinging.
N Hopper walked. J Keppinger walked, J Cantu to third, N Hopper to second.
J Votto struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 8, CINCINNATI 5.</div>

 

Biggio helps lead Astros over Reds

<h3>HOUSTON 8, CINCINNATI 5</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- In a game that featured plenty ofrookies, it was a 20-year veteran that proved to be thedifference.


Craig Biggio had two RBI, including the go-ahead single in thetop of the sixth inning, to help lead the Houston Astros to a8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.


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


Trailing, 5-4, with nobody on base in the top of the sixth, J.R.Towles reached on an error by Reds third baseman EdwinEncarnacion to keep the inning alive and knock out Cincinnatistarter Homer Bailey.


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

Biggio, who had recorded his 3,000th hit on June 28, announcedearlier in the year that he will retire at the end of thisseason.


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


Dave Borkowski pitched two scoreless innings of relief forHouston followed by Chad Qualls, who pitched a scoreless eighth.Brad Lidge worked the ninth and struck out rookie Joey Vottowith the bases loaded for his 17th save.


Norris Hopper had two hits and two RBI for the Reds, who havelost 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 hitsand one earned run.


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


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


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

Pence homered in the top of the seventh and hit a RBI single inthe ninth to provide the Astros with insurance and cap thescoring.


The Reds played without slugger Adam Dunn, who will havearthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Wednesday. Cincinnatiholds an option on Dunn for next season, and his future withthe organization is unclear.

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (8) VS CINCINNATI (5) - FINAL

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 .392
C Biggio 2b 3 1 1 2 1 2 1 .250
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L Berkman 1b 4 1 2 1 1 1 0 .276
C Lee lf 5 0 2 0 0 0 4 .300
E Bruntlett pr-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
H Pence rf 4 1 2 2 1 1 1 .323
T Wigginton 3b 5 1 0 0 0 0 3 .286
C Ransom ss 5 0 0 0 0 3 3 .258
J Towles c 5 2 1 1 0 0 2 .379
F Paulino p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
a-L Scott ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .256
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Burke ph-2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .234

Totals 38 8 10 8 3 9 15

a-singled to center for F Paulino in the 6th; b-struck out swinging for D
Borkowski in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - L Berkman 2 (24, M McBeth, H Bailey); J Towles (5, H Bailey). HR
- H Pence (16, 7th inning off G Majewski 0 on, 0 Out). SF - C Biggio , J
Anderson. RBI - C Biggio 2 (50), L Berkman (96), J Towles (12), J Anderson 2
(11), H Pence 2 (65). 2-out RBI - J Anderson, C Biggio. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1, C Lee 2, H Pence 1, J Towles 1. Team LOB - 9.


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 4 0 2 2 1 0 0 .338
J Keppinger ss 3 0 1 0 2 0 1 .342
J Votto lf 5 1 1 1 0 2 6 .328
B Phillips 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .290
E Encarnacion 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .291
J Valentin c 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .277
J Cantu 1b 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .326
J Ellison rf 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 .152
H Bailey p 2 1 1 2 0 1 0 .333
J Coutlangus p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Majewski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-A Gonzalez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
B Bray p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M McBeth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Salmon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-B Coats ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .235

Totals 34 5 8 5 4 6 14

a-flied out to center for G Majewski in the 7th; b-struck out swinging for B
Salmon in the 9th.

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 3. GIDP - J Keppinger. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - J Votto (1, fly ball); E Encarnacion (15, ground ball). PB - J
Valentin.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 101 202 101 -- 8
CINCINNATI - 140 000 000 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
F Paulino (W, 1-1) 5 8 5 5 1 2 1 10.38
D Borkowski (H, 8) 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 5.30
C Qualls (H, 19) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.12
B Lidge (S, 17) 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 3.32

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
H Bailey 5 2/3 3 5 2 2 5 0 5.67
J Coutlangus (L, 4-2; B, 3) 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.39
G Majewski 1 1/3 2 1 1 1 1 1 7.66
B Bray 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 6.75
M McBeth 1/3 3 1 1 0 0 0 6.38
B Salmon 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.47

J Coutlangus pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.

WP - H Bailey, B Lidge. HBP - J Anderson (by H Bailey); J Cantu (by B Lidge).
Pitches-strikes: F Paulino 87-57; D Borkowski 22-11; C Qualls 13-9; B Lidge
27-13; H Bailey 93-58; J Coutlangus 8-6; G Majewski 23-13; B Bray 14-9; M
McBeth 12-10; B Salmon 6-4. Ground balls-fly balls: F Paulino 7-6; D Borkowski
2-3; C Qualls 2-1; B Lidge 0-0; H Bailey 3-10; J Coutlangus 0-0; G Majewski
2-1; B Bray 1-0; M McBeth 0-1; B Salmon 0-1. Batters faced: F Paulino 23; D
Borkowski 7; C Qualls 3; B Lidge 6; H Bailey 26; J Coutlangus 2; G Majewski 7;
B Bray 3; M McBeth 4; B Salmon 2.

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

T--3:08. (Plus rain delay totaling 12 minutes in the 1st). Att--13,261.

Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 1 mph, out to right.</div>

 

Biggio helps lead Astros over Reds

<h3>HOUSTON 8, CINCINNATI 5</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- In a game that featured plenty ofrookies, it was a 20-year veteran that proved to be thedifference.


Craig Biggio had two RBI, including the go-ahead single in thetop of the sixth inning, to help lead the Houston Astros to an8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.


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


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


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

Houston interim manager Cecil Cooper is happy to be connectedwith Biggio.


"He's had a tremendous, tremendous career," Cooper said. "He'sa special guy. It has been fun to be around him the last threeyears and now I can say I managed him. But the young kids nevergave up. They don't quit. Sometimes you need young guys toadd a little excitement."


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

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


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


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


Dave Borkowski pitched two scoreless innings of relief and ChadQualls followed with a scoreless eighth for Houston. Brad Lidgeworked the ninth and struck out rookie Joey Votto with thebases loaded for his 17th save.


Norris Hopper had two hits and two RBI for the Reds, who havelost 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 hitsand one earned run.


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


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


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


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

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


The Reds played without slugger Adam Dunn, who will havearthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday. Cincinnatiholds an option on Dunn for next season, and his future with theorganization is unclear.


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


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


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


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