GAME THREAD: NL: CINCINNATI (19-33) at HOUSTON (21-29)

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CINCINNATI (2) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 4 1 3 0 0 0 1 .286
S Hatteberg 1b 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .312
K Griffey Jr rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .286
B Phillips 2b 3 0 0 0 1 2 3 .280
A Dunn lf 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 .258
E Encarnacion 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .235
A Gonzalez ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .268
C Moeller c 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .240
M Belisle p 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .063
J Coutlangus p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 2 7 2 3 10 11

BATTING: 2B - N Hopper (3, R White). HR - S Hatteberg (5, 8th inning off C
Qualls 0 on, 1 Out). SF - A Dunn. RBI - A Dunn (33), S Hatteberg (18). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - A Dunn 1, K Griffey Jr 1, E Encarnacion 2.
GIDP - K Griffey Jr, C Moeller. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Hopper (1, 2nd base by C Qualls/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - N Hopper (A Everett at Home). DP: 1 (A
Gonzalez-S Hatteberg).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Ensberg 3b 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .232
M Loretta 1b-ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .327
L Berkman rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250
C Lee lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
H Pence cf 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .355
C Biggio 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .230
A Everett ss 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 .206
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
B Ausmus c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
b-L Scott ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
c-J Lane ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .169
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Jennings p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
R White p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .162
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Lamb 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 26 1 4 1 0 9 2

a-lined out to pitcher for B Lidge in the 6th; b-hit for B Ausmus in the 8th;
c-struck out swinging for L Scott in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (14, M Belisle). 3B - A Everett (1, M Belisle). RBI - A
Everett (9). 2-out RBI - A Everett. GIDP - H Pence. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (C Biggio-A Everett-M Loretta, A Everett-M Loretta).


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 000 001 010 -- 2
HOUSTON - 010 000 00 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
M Belisle 7 2/3 4 1 1 0 8 0 4.26
J Coutlangus 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.91

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 5 3 0 0 2 3 0 2.12
R White 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 6.26
T Miller 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.65
B Lidge 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.04
C Qualls 2 2 1 1 0 4 1 4.01
D Wheeler 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.04

R White pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.
T Miller pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

Pitches-strikes: M Belisle 102-66; J Coutlangus 4-3; J Jennings 79-51; R
White 4-3; T Miller 7-3; B Lidge 11-6; C Qualls 29-21; D Wheeler 13-8. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Belisle 7-7; J Coutlangus 0-0; J Jennings 9-3; R White 0-0;
T Miller 0-0; B Lidge 0-2; C Qualls 1-0; D Wheeler 0-1. Batters faced: M
Belisle 25; J Coutlangus 1; J Jennings 18; R White 2; T Miller 1; B Lidge 3; C
Qualls 7; D Wheeler 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Bill Welke. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Wally Bell.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: N Hopper in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 2
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M Lamb (.277, 2 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Castro at third base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 2
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M Lamb (.277, 2 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
CIN: DAVID WEATHERS (1-3, 4.30) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 1

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LAMB (.277, 2 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Weathers relieved J Coutlangus.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 2
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M Lamb (.277, 2 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Wise in center field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 2
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M Lamb (.277, 2 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

BATTERIES: CIN - MATT BELISLE, JON COUTLANGUS (8TH), DAVID WEATHERS (9TH) AND
CHAD MOELLER

HOU - JASON JENNINGS, RICK WHITE (6TH), TREVER MILLER
(6TH), BRAD LIDGE (6TH), CHAD QUALLS (7TH), DAN WHEELER (9TH)
AND BRAD AUSMUS, HUMBERTO QUINTERO (9TH)

HOME RUNS: CIN - SCOTT HATTEBERG (5) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 8TH, 0 ON

HOU - NONE</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

BATTERIES: CIN - MATT BELISLE, JON COUTLANGUS (8TH), DAVID WEATHERS (9TH) AND
CHAD MOELLER

HOU - JASON JENNINGS, RICK WHITE (6TH), TREVER MILLER
(6TH), BRAD LIDGE (6TH), CHAD QUALLS (7TH), DAN WHEELER (9TH)
AND BRAD AUSMUS, HUMBERTO QUINTERO (9TH)


WP - MATT BELISLE (5-4)
LP - CHAD QUALLS (4-2)
SAVE - DAVID WEATHERS (10)

HOME RUNS: CIN - SCOTT HATTEBERG (5) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 8TH, 0 ON

HOU - NONE


TIME: 2:48 ATT: 33,565

PROBABLES: CIN - AARON HARANG (5-2, 4.50)
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (2-4, 4.45)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CINCINNATI (2) VS HOUSTON (1) - FINAL

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf-lf 4 1 3 0 0 0 1 .286
S Hatteberg 1b 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .312
K Griffey Jr rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .286
B Phillips 2b 3 0 0 0 1 2 3 .280
A Dunn lf 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 .258
J Castro 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160
E Encarnacion 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .235
D Weathers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Gonzalez ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .268
C Moeller c 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .240
M Belisle p 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .063
J Coutlangus p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Wise cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 2 7 2 3 10 11

BATTING: 2B - N Hopper (3, R White). HR - S Hatteberg (5, 8th inning off C
Qualls 0 on, 1 Out). SF - A Dunn. RBI - A Dunn (33), S Hatteberg (18). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - A Dunn 1, K Griffey Jr 1, E Encarnacion 2.
GIDP - K Griffey Jr, C Moeller. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Hopper (1, 2nd base by C Qualls/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: E - B Phillips (4, ground ball). Outfield assists - N Hopper (A
Everett at Home). DP: 2 (A Gonzalez-S Hatteberg 2).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Ensberg 3b 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .232
M Loretta 1b-ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .327
L Berkman rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .250
C Lee lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .310
H Pence cf 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .355
C Biggio 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .230
A Everett ss 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 .206
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
B Ausmus c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
b-L Scott ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
c-J Lane ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .169
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Jennings p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
R White p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .162
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274

Totals 28 1 4 1 2 9 5

a-lined out to pitcher for B Lidge in the 6th; b-hit for B Ausmus in the 8th;
c-struck out swinging for L Scott in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (14, M Belisle). 3B - A Everett (1, M Belisle). S - M
Ensberg. RBI - A Everett (9). 2-out RBI - A Everett. GIDP - H Pence, C Lee.
Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (C Biggio-A Everett-M Loretta, A Everett-M Loretta).


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 000 001 010 -- 2
HOUSTON - 010 000 000 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
M Belisle (W, 5-4) 7 2/3 4 1 1 0 8 0 4.26
J Coutlangus (H, 3) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.91
D Weathers (S, 10) 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 4.12

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 5 3 0 0 2 3 0 2.12
R White (H, 4) 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 6.26
T Miller (H, 7) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.65
B Lidge (B, 2) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.04
C Qualls (L, 4-2) 2 2 1 1 0 4 1 4.01
D Wheeler 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.04

R White pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.
T Miller pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

Pitches-strikes: M Belisle 102-66; J Coutlangus 4-3; D Weathers 21-12; J
Jennings 79-51; R White 4-3; T Miller 7-3; B Lidge 11-6; C Qualls 29-21; D
Wheeler 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: M Belisle 7-7; J Coutlangus 0-0; D
Weathers 3-0; J Jennings 9-3; R White 0-0; T Miller 0-0; B Lidge 0-2; C Qualls
1-0; D Wheeler 0-1. Batters faced: M Belisle 25; J Coutlangus 1; D Weathers 5;
J Jennings 18; R White 2; T Miller 1; B Lidge 3; C Qualls 7; D Wheeler 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Bill Welke. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Wally Bell.

T--2:48. Att--33,565.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
CINCINNATI 2
HOUSTON 1 FINAL</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CINCINNATI (2) AT HOUSTON (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee flied out to left. H Pence struck out swinging.
C Biggio doubled to left. A Everett tripled to deep center, C Biggio scored,
A Everett out stretching at home. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0,
HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 6TH: R White relieved J Jennings. N Hopper doubled to left.
S Hatteberg singled to center, N Hopper to third. T Miller relieved R White.
K Griffey Jr walked, S Hatteberg to second. B Lidge relieved T Miller.
B Phillips struck out swinging. A Dunn hit sacrifice fly to center, N Hopper
scored, S Hatteberg to third, K Griffey Jr to second. E Encarnacion fouled out
to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 1, HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 8TH: N Hopper reached on infield single to shortstop. N Hopper
caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. S Hatteberg homered to right
center. K Griffey Jr struck out swinging. B Phillips struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 1.</div>

 

Belisle, Hatteberg lead Reds to win over struggling Astros

<h3>CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 1</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Neither the Cincinnati Reds nor starterMatt Belisle had enjoyed much success at Minute Maid Park, untilTuesday.

Belisle, who was born and still lives in Austin, pitched sevensolid innings with a career-high eight strikeouts, and ScottHatteberg hit the deciding home run and the Reds beat Houston2-1, extending the Astros' losing streak to nine in a row.

The Reds had won just 22 of the 61 meetings there and Belislewas 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA in three appearances.

Belisle (5-4) allowed only four hits, one run, without a walk,throwing 102 pitches.

Jon Coutlangus got the final out of the eighth and DavidWeathers got Carlos Lee to hit into a game-ending double play tonotch his ninth save of the season.

Adam Everett had a hit and an RBI for the Astros, who have lostnine straight for the first time since September 13-24, 1996.

Norris Hopper led off the eighth with a single off Chad Qualls(4-2) but was thrown out stealing by Houston catcher BradAusmus. Hatteberg then hit a 402-foot homer, his fifth of theseason, to break a 1-1 tie.

Houston scored its only run off Belisle in the second. CraigBiggio, demoted from leadoff to sixth in the order, doubled withtwo outs and scored on Everett's triple for the first run ofthe game.

Hopper tried to make a diving catch on Everett's shallow hit tocenter, but the ball got by him. Hopper retrieved the ball,threw it to second baseman Brandon Phillips, who threw outEverett trying for an inside-the-park homer at the plate.

Cincinnati, which had lost 20 of 26, tied the game in the sixthoff the Houston bullpen. Hopper doubled and Hatteberg singledoff Rick White to put runners at first and third with no outs.

Lefthander Trever Miller was called in to face Griffey, butwalked him to load the bases. Brad Lidge then struck outPhillips, but gave up a sacrifice fly to Edwin Encarnacion.

The Astros turned to righthander Jason Jennings, fresh off thedisabled list, to try to put a stop to their slide.

Jennings, who had not started since April 8 because oftendinitis in his right elbow, tossed five scoreless innings,allowing just three hits.

Jennings threw 28 pitches in the first inning, including twowalks and a single, but forced Ken Griffey Jr. to ground into adouble play and escaped without any runs being scored. Heallowed only three hits, all singles, and struck out three andnever walked another batter after the first.

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CINCINNATI (2) AT HOUSTON (1) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cincinnati Starting Lineups -- N Hopper CF, S Hatteberg 1B, K Griffey Jr RF, B
Phillips 2B, A Dunn LF, E Encarnacion 3B, A Gonzalez SS, C Moeller C, M Belisle
RHP.

Houston Starting Lineups -- M Ensberg 3B, M Loretta 1B, L Berkman RF, C Lee LF,
H Pence CF, C Biggio 2B, A Everett SS, B Ausmus C, J Jennings RHP.

Umpires -- Rob Drake (HP), Bill Welke (1B), Laz Diaz (2B), Wally Bell (3B).


Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


CINCINNATI 1ST: N Hopper singled to right. S Hatteberg walked, N Hopper to
second. K Griffey Jr grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first,
S Hatteberg out at second, N Hopper to third. B Phillips walked. A Dunn
grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: M Ensberg struck out looking. M Loretta grounded out to
shortstop. L Berkman grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CINCINNATI 0, HOUSTON 0.

CINCINNATI 2ND: E Encarnacion grounded out to shortstop. A Gonzalez
singled to left. C Moeller grounded into double play, shortstop to first,
A Gonzalez out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee flied out to left. H Pence struck out swinging.
C Biggio doubled to left. A Everett tripled to deep center, C Biggio scored,
A Everett out stretching at home. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0,
HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 3RD: M Belisle singled to right. N Hopper grounded into
fielder's choice to third, M Belisle out at second. S Hatteberg grounded out
to third, N Hopper to second. K Griffey Jr grounded out to first. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 3RD: B Ausmus flied out to right. J Jennings struck out swinging.
M Ensberg singled to left. M Loretta grounded into fielder's choice to second,
M Ensberg out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0, HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 4TH: B Phillips fouled out to first. A Dunn struck out looking.
E Encarnacion flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 4TH: L Berkman struck out swinging. C Lee grounded out to
shortstop. H Pence struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0,
HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 5TH: A Gonzalez popped out to third. C Moeller struck out
swinging. M Belisle struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 0,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: C Biggio grounded out to third. A Everett struck out
swinging. B Ausmus fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CINCINNATI 0, HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 6TH: R White relieved J Jennings. N Hopper doubled to left.
S Hatteberg singled to center, N Hopper to third. T Miller relieved R White.
K Griffey Jr walked, S Hatteberg to second. B Lidge relieved T Miller.
B Phillips struck out swinging. A Dunn hit sacrifice fly to center, N Hopper
scored, S Hatteberg to third, K Griffey Jr to second. E Encarnacion fouled out
to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: O Palmeiro hit for B Lidge. O Palmeiro lined out to pitcher.
M Ensberg struck out looking. M Loretta flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) CINCINNATI 1, HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 7TH: C Qualls relieved B Lidge. A Gonzalez grounded out to
second. C Moeller struck out swinging. M Belisle struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: L Berkman lined out to second. C Lee singled to left.
H Pence grounded into double play, shortstop to first, C Lee out at second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 1, HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 8TH: N Hopper reached on infield single to shortstop. N Hopper
caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. S Hatteberg homered to right
center. K Griffey Jr struck out swinging. B Phillips struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 8TH: C Biggio popped out to second. A Everett struck out swinging.
L Scott hit for B Ausmus. J Coutlangus relieved M Belisle. J Lane hit for
L Scott. J Lane struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 2,
HOUSTON 1.

CINCINNATI 9TH: M Loretta at shortstop. H Quintero catching. D Wheeler
relieved C Qualls. M Lamb at first base. A Dunn flied out to center.
E Encarnacion struck out swinging. A Gonzalez struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: N Hopper in left field. J Castro at third base. D Weathers
relieved J Coutlangus. D Wise in center field. M Lamb safe at first on error by
second baseman B Phillips. M Ensberg sacrificed to pitcher, M Lamb to second.
M Loretta walked. L Berkman walked, M Lamb to third, M Loretta to second.
C Lee grounded into double play, shortstop to first, L Berkman out at second.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 1.</div>

 

Belisle, Hatteberg lead Reds to win over struggling Astros

<h3>CINCINNATI 2, HOUSTON 1</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Neither the Cincinnati Reds nor starterMatt Belisle had enjoyed much success at Minute Maid Park, untilTuesday.

Belisle pitched seven solid innings with a career-high eightstrikeouts, and Scott Hatteberg hit the deciding home run as theReds posted a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

The Reds had won just 22 of the 61 meetings here and Belisle was0-2 with a 7.11 ERA in three appearances.

"I didn't know anything about (my) past," said Belisle, who wasborn in, and still lives in Austin, Texas. "I always feel goodcoming in here because it's home."

Belisle (5-4) allowed only four hits and one run and did not<div class="pre">walk a batter among his 102 pitches.</div>

"The quality of my pitches was a little better," said Belisle,who had won only one of his last five starts. "I was hitting theoutside corners, down and away, and mixing in my curveball."

"Matt Belisle was outstanding," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narronsaid. "He threw strikes, had good movement, kept the ball down.He's given us some very good outings."

Jon Coutlangus got the final out of the eighth and DavidWeathers got Carlos Lee to hit into a game-ending double playwith the bases loaded for his his 10th save of the season.

Lee hit a grounder up the middle that a slipping Alex Gonzalezsnagged, stepped on second and threw to first in time to get theslow-footed Lee.

"I made that inning really tough," joked Weathers, a formerAstro. "It could have gotten really ugly. The bases are loaded,you've got to make a pitch. I threw Lee a sinker away. Youjust want to get a ground ball. Gonzo (shortstop Alex Gonzalez)made a great play. He crawled to second base."

Lee was disappointed he could not come through to stop Houston'snine-game losing streak - its longest in 11 years.

"It was a beautiful opportunity to turn this thing around," Leesaid of Houston's losing streak. "It just turned into a doubleplay and killed everyone right there. It's pretty rough outthere right now. I definitely believe we're way better thanthat."

Norris Hopper led off the eighth with a single off Chad Qualls(4-2) but was thrown out stealing by Houston catcher Brad Ausmuson a failed hit-and-run play. Hatteberg did not attempt to putthe ball in play, causing his teammate to be thrown out, but hemade up for it by blasting the next pitch for a 402-foot homer,his fifth of the season, to break a 1-1 tie.

"I pride myself in doing that," Hatteberg said of being able tohit-and-run. But he got a bad pitch out of the strike zone anddidn't swing. "My mind said swing, but my body wouldn't do it.Ausmus makes a perfect throw and there goes our rally. Iscrewed up."

"Home runs are not really my game," he said. "It gets prettydeep out there and I just ran. I said, get to second and let(Ken Griffey Jr.) drive you in."

Houston scored its only run off Belisle in the second. CraigBiggio, demoted from leadoff to sixth in the order, doubled withtwo outs and scored on Everett's triple for the first run ofthe game.

Hopper tried to make a diving catch on Everett's shallow hit tocenter, but the ball got by him. Hopper retrieved the ball,threw it to second baseman Brandon Phillips, who threw outEverett trying for an inside-the-park homer at the plate.

"It was a great relay," Belisle said. "Phillips threw afour-seamer."

Everett said he ran out of steam on the play.

"I was just hoping it got down," Everett said of his hit. "Itlooked like (Hopper) was going to make a diving catch. When itgot by him, 'Oh, at least I get three (bases) here. Manzo(third baseman coach Doug Mansolino) waved me early. I kind ofran out of gas. I knew he tagged me, but I'm not sure if I gotin there or not."

Cincinnati, which had lost 20 of 26, tied the game in the sixthoff the Houston bullpen. Hopper doubled and Hatteberg singledoff Rick White to put runners at first and third with no outs.

Lefthander Trever Miller was called in to face Griffey, butwalked him to load the bases. Brad Lidge then struck outPhillips, but gave up a sacrifice fly to Edwin Encarnacion.

The Astros turned to righthander Jason Jennings, fresh off thedisabled list, to try to put a stop to their slide.

Jennings, who had not started since April 8 because oftendinitis in his right elbow, tossed five scoreless innings,allowing just three hits.

Jennings threw 28 pitches in the first inning but escaped<div class="pre">without any runs being scored. He struck out three and never</div>walked another batter after the first.

The 28-year-old said he was not where he wanted to be, but feltgood about his first start in more than a month.

"Obviously, I'm a little frustrated with my endurance and armstrength," said Jennings, who was replaced after only 79pitches. "But that's going to come with time. I'm not afive-inning guy. Other than that, I was pretty pleased."