GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (69-88) at CINCINNATI (71-86)

NL: HOUSTON (69-88) at CINCINNATI (71-86)

<h3>Rookies face off as Astros and Reds continue series</h3>



<div class="pre">Houston (68-88) at Cincinnati (71-86) 7:10 pm EDT</div>

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- A pair of rookie pitchers face off as theCincinnati Reds and Houston Astros continue a three-game seriesWednesday.


Craig Biggio hit a go-ahead single in the sixth to help theAstros post an 8-5 win in Monday's opener, their fourth in thelast six games.


Houston, which has won nine of the 12 meetings this season,sends Juan Gutierrez to the hill.


Gutierrez (1-1, 4.96 ERA), who is making his third career start,allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, but did notreceive a decision against Milwaukee on Thursday.


Meanwhile, the Reds counter with Tom Shearn (3-0, 3.94), who islooking to win his fourth straight decision. The 30-year-oldjourneyman would be the first Cincinnati pitcher to do so sincePat Zachry in 1976 and the same year Santo Alcala won fivestraight.


The Astros swept the Reds in three games from May 7-9 in thelast series between the clubs.

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

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

HOUSTON CINCINNATI
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Chris Burke 2B .234 6 28 Norris Hopper CF .338 0 14
Adam Everett SS .230 2 15 Jeff Keppinger SS .342 5 32
Lance Berkman 1B .276 31 96 Joey Votto 1B .328 3 12
Carlos Lee LF .300 31 115 Brandon Phillips 2B .290 29 92
Hunter Pence CF .323 16 65 Edwin Encarnacion 3B .291 15 74
Luke Scott RF .256 18 64 Javier Valentin C .277 2 33
Ty Wigginton 3B .286 6 17 Buck Coats LF .235 0 1
Eric Munson C .237 4 15 Jason Ellison RF .152 1 2
Juan Gutierrez RHP .000 0 0 Tom Shearn RHP .000 0 0
(1-1, 4.96) (3-0, 3.94)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
WARMUPS: HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ (1-1, 4.96)
CIN - TOM SHEARN (3-0, 3.94)

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

WEATHER: 72 Degrees, rain
WIND: 9 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
STARTING BATS: HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ AND ERIC MUNSON
CIN - TOM SHEARN AND JAVIER VALENTIN

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BURKE (.234, 6 HR, 28 RBI)
A EVERETT (.230, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.276, 31 HR, 96 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY LANCE BERKMAN (32) TO LEFT CENTER
WITH 0 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF TOM SHEARN SCORED CHRIS BURKE AND ADAM
EVERETT.
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3, CINCINNATI 0

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.300, 31 HR, 115 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CARLOS LEE (32) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
1ST OFF TOM SHEARN.
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4, CINCINNATI 0

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.323, 16 HR, 65 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL HOUSTON AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: THE HOME RUNS BY HOUSTON'S LANCE BERKMAN AND CARLOS
LEE IN THE FIRST INNING WERE HIT BACK-TO-BACK.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - PITCHING CHANGE
CIN: KIRK SAARLOOS (1-5, 7.32) IN THE 1ST
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, E MUNSON ON FIRST, L SCOTT ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4, CINCINNATI 0

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J GUTIERREZ (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: K Saarloos relieved T Shearn.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, E MUNSON ON FIRST, L SCOTT ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4
CINCINNATI 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J Gutierrez (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ
CIN - KIRK SAARLOOS

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: N HOPPER (.338, 0 HR, 14 RBI)
J KEPPINGER (.342, 5 HR, 32 RBI)
J VOTTO (.328, 3 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (4) VS CINCINNATI (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .236
A Everett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234
L Berkman 1b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .277
C Lee lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .302
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .284
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .237
J Gutierrez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000

Totals 7 4 4 4 2 1 3

BATTING: 2B - C Burke (18, T Shearn). HR - L Berkman (32, 1st inning off T
Shearn 2 on, 0 Out), C Lee (32, 1st inning off T Shearn 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - L
Berkman 3 (99), C Lee (116). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Gutierrez 1. Team LOB - 2.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338
J Keppinger ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
J Votto 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
B Phillips 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Valentin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
B Coats lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .152
T Shearn p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Saarloos p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 4 -- 4
CINCINNATI - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Gutierrez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.96

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
T Shearn 2/3 4 4 4 2 0 2 4.96
K Saarloos 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 7.26

Pitches-strikes: T Shearn 37-18; K Saarloos 9-6. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Shearn 1-1; K Saarloos 0-0. Batters faced: T Shearn 8; K Saarloos 1.

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

Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ
CIN - TOM SHEARN</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY BRANDON PHILLIPS (30) TO RIGHT WITH 2
OUT IN THE 1ST OFF JUAN GUTIERREZ SCORED JOEY VOTTO.
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4, CINCINNATI 2

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: E ENCARNACION (.291, 15 HR, 74 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ
CIN - KIRK SAARLOOS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BURKE (.236, 1-FOR-1)
A EVERETT (.234, 1-FOR-1)
L BERKMAN (.277, 1-FOR-1, HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (4) VS CINCINNATI (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .236
A Everett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234
L Berkman 1b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .277
C Lee lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .302
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .284
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .237
J Gutierrez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000

Totals 7 4 4 4 2 1 3

BATTING: 2B - C Burke (18, T Shearn). HR - L Berkman (32, 1st inning off T
Shearn 2 on, 0 Out), C Lee (32, 1st inning off T Shearn 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - L
Berkman 3 (99), C Lee (116). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Gutierrez 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Burke-L Berkman).


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .338
J Keppinger ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .341
J Votto 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .338
B Phillips 2b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .291
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .291
J Valentin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
B Coats lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .152
T Shearn p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Saarloos p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 4 2 2 2 2 0 2

BATTING: 2B - J Votto (5, J Gutierrez). HR - B Phillips (30, 1st inning off J
Gutierrez 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - B Phillips 2 (94). 2-out RBI - B Phillips 2. Team
LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 4 -- 4
CINCINNATI - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Gutierrez 1 2 2 2 2 0 1 5.71

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
T Shearn 2/3 4 4 4 2 0 2 4.96
K Saarloos 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 7.26

Pitches-strikes: J Gutierrez 28-14; T Shearn 37-18; K Saarloos 9-6. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Gutierrez 0-2; T Shearn 1-1; K Saarloos 0-0. Batters faced:
J Gutierrez 6; T Shearn 8; K Saarloos 1.

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

Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ
CIN - KIRK SAARLOOS

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: B COATS (.235, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
J ELLISON (.152, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
K SAARLOOS (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (4) VS CINCINNATI (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .235
A Everett ss 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .234
L Berkman 1b 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 .278
C Lee lf 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .301
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .284
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .237
J Gutierrez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000

Totals 10 4 5 4 3 1 5

BATTING: 2B - C Burke (18, T Shearn). HR - L Berkman (32, 1st inning off T
Shearn 2 on, 0 Out), C Lee (32, 1st inning off T Shearn 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - L
Berkman 3 (99), C Lee (116). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Gutierrez 1. GIDP - C Lee. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Burke-L Berkman).


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .338
J Keppinger ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .341
J Votto 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .338
B Phillips 2b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .291
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .291
J Valentin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
B Coats lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Ellison rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .152
T Shearn p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Saarloos p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 4 2 2 2 2 0 2

BATTING: 2B - J Votto (5, J Gutierrez). HR - B Phillips (30, 1st inning off J
Gutierrez 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - B Phillips 2 (94). 2-out RBI - B Phillips 2. Team
LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (E Encarnacion-B Phillips-J Votto).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 40 -- 4
CINCINNATI - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Gutierrez 1 2 2 2 2 0 1 5.71

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
T Shearn 2/3 4 4 4 2 0 2 4.96
K Saarloos 1 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 7.08

Pitches-strikes: J Gutierrez 28-14; T Shearn 37-18; K Saarloos 18-11. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Gutierrez 0-2; T Shearn 1-1; K Saarloos 2-1. Batters faced:
J Gutierrez 6; T Shearn 8; K Saarloos 5.

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

Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KIRK SAARLOOS SCORED BUCK COATS AND JASON
ELLISON.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, K SAARLOOS ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4
CINCINNATI 4 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: N HOPPER (.338, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
JEFF KEPPINGER HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING KIRK SAARLOOS.

SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4
CINCINNATI 5 BOTTOM, 2ND

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

 

NL: HOUSTON at CINCINNATI

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ
CIN - KIRK SAARLOOS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.323, 0-FOR-1)
L SCOTT (.256, 0-FOR-0, BB)
T WIGGINTON (.284, 0-FOR-1)</div>