GAME THREAD: NL: CINCINNATI (21-33) at HOUSTON (21-31)

NL: CINCINNATI (21-33) at HOUSTON (21-31)

<h3>Astros look to avoid tying franchise low in series finale</h3>

Cincinnati (21-33) at Houston (21-31) 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros had to view a series withthe National League's worst team as a chance to work themselvesout of an early-season hole. Instead, they have dug a deeperditch.

The Astros look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the CincinnatiReds when the teams conclude their series on Thursday at MinuteMaid Park.

Houston entered this series with eight straight losses but hadto figure that it would be able to right the ship against a teamthat had the worst winning percentage in the majors. Instead,it has dropped two one-run contests to the Reds and are one winaway from tying a franchise-worst 11-game skid from August17-28, 1995.

Woody Williams (1-7, 5.65 ERA), who has lost two straightdecisions, will get the start hoping to get Houston back intothe win column.

Williams has received three or fewer runs of support in 10 ofhis 11 outings but has not helped himself either, allowing fouror more runs in three straight after going four consecutiveoutings without yielding more than three.

The righthander surrendered four runs and five hits over fiveframes in a 13-3 loss to the Rangers on Friday. He is 9-5 in 21lifetime starts against the Reds, sporting a 5.37 ERA.

Cincinnati will send Bronson Arroyo (2-5, 4.01) to the moundwith the hopes of compounding the Astros' slump. His biggestflaw lately has been the first inning, as he has allowed fourruns in the opening frame in each of his last two starts.

The righthander has lost three straight decisions, including a9-5 setback against Pittsburgh on Saturday. He yielded six runsand seven hits over four innings. It was the second straightstart he failed to make it past four frames after pitching intothe sixth in his first nine outings.

Arroyo has yielded only three runs in 14 innings over two startsagainst the Astros this season, picking up the win in an 11-2road rout on May 1 due to seven strong innings.

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CINCINNATI HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Norris Hopper CF .321 0 0 Craig Biggio 2B .230 3 16
Scott Hatteberg 1B .312 5 18 Mark Loretta 3B .327 0 11
Ken Griffey Jr RF .285 11 31 Lance Berkman 1B .244 5 25
Brandon Phillips 2B .280 9 28 Carlos Lee LF .313 10 46
Adam Dunn LF .258 14 34 Hunter Pence CF .342 4 18
Alex Gonzalez SS .277 10 24 Luke Scott RF .226 4 24
Edwin Encarnacion 3B .228 3 21 Adam Everett SS .213 1 10
David Ross C .211 6 17 Brad Ausmus C .235 0 6
Bronson Arroyo RHP .083 0 0 Woody Williams RHP .125 1 2
(2-5, 4.01) (1-7, 5.65)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO (2-5, 4.01)
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS (1-7, 5.65)

UMPIRES: HP - LAZ DIAZ
1B - WALLY BELL
2B - ROB DRAKE
3B - BILL WELKE

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO AND DAVID ROSS
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS AND BRAD AUSMUS

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: N HOPPER (.321, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
S HATTEBERG (.312, 5 HR, 18 RBI)
K GRIFFEY J (.285, 11 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.230, 3 HR, 16 RBI)
M LORETTA (.327, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.244, 5 HR, 25 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .315
S Hatteberg 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
K Griffey Jr rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Dunn lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
B Arroyo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 3 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
M Loretta 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.01

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Williams 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 5.57

Pitches-strikes: W Williams 22-16. Ground balls-fly balls: W Williams 0-0.
Batters faced: W Williams 4.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: A DUNN (.258, 14 HR, 34 RBI)
A GONZALEZ (.277, 10 HR, 24 RBI)
E ENCARNACION (.228, 3 HR, 21 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .315
S Hatteberg 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
K Griffey Jr rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Dunn lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
B Arroyo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 3 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.95

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Williams 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 5.57

Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 7-6; W Williams 22-16. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Arroyo 0-3; W Williams 0-0. Batters faced: B Arroyo 3; W Williams 4.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.313, 10 HR, 46 RBI)
H PENCE (.342, 4 HR, 18 RBI)
L SCOTT (.226, 4 HR, 24 RBI)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CINCINNATI (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .315
S Hatteberg 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
K Griffey Jr rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Gonzalez ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .234
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .211
B Arroyo p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .080

Totals 8 0 2 0 1 5 3

BATTING: 2B - E Encarnacion (4, W Williams). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - B Arroyo 1. Team LOB - 3.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.95

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Williams 2 2 0 0 1 5 0 5.48

Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 7-6; W Williams 41-26. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Arroyo 0-3; W Williams 0-1. Batters faced: B Arroyo 3; W Williams 9.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: N HOPPER (.315, 0-FOR-1)
S HATTEBERG (.310, 0-FOR-1)
K GRIFFEY JR (.289, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CINCINNATI (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .315
S Hatteberg 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
K Griffey Jr rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Gonzalez ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .234
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .211
B Arroyo p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .080

Totals 8 0 2 0 1 5 3

BATTING: 2B - E Encarnacion (4, W Williams). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - B Arroyo 1. Team LOB - 3.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .348
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
A Everett ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .212
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (8, B Arroyo). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
A Everett 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.89

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Williams 2 2 0 0 1 5 0 5.48

Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 24-18; W Williams 41-26. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Arroyo 1-4; W Williams 0-1. Batters faced: B Arroyo 7; W Williams 9.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B AUSMUS (.235, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
W WILLIAMS (.125, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
C BIGGIO (.229, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CINCINNATI (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .327
S Hatteberg 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .307
K Griffey Jr rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .287
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Gonzalez ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .234
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .211
B Arroyo p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .080

Totals 11 0 3 0 1 6 5

BATTING: 2B - E Encarnacion (4, W Williams). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - B Arroyo 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Hopper (2, 2nd base by W Williams/B Ausmus).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .348
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
A Everett ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .212
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (8, B Arroyo). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
A Everett 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.89

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Williams 3 3 0 0 1 6 0 5.40

Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 24-18; W Williams 56-35. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Arroyo 1-4; W Williams 0-2. Batters faced: B Arroyo 7; W Williams 12.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CRAIG BIGGIO SCORED BRAD AUSMUS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C BIGGIO ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 0
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.324, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY CARLOS LEE SCORED CRAIG BIGGIO AND MARK LORETTA.

SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C LEE ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 0
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.348, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY HUNTER PENCE SCORED CARLOS LEE.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 0
HOUSTON 4 END BOTTOM, 3RD</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CIN - BRONSON ARROYO
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: B PHILLIPS (.279, 0-FOR-1)
A DUNN (.257, 0-FOR-1)
A GONZALEZ (.275, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: CINCINNATI at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CINCINNATI (0) VS HOUSTON (4) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .327
S Hatteberg 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .307
K Griffey Jr rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .287
B Phillips 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Gonzalez ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .234
D Ross c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .211
B Arroyo p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .080

Totals 11 0 3 0 1 6 5

BATTING: 2B - E Encarnacion (4, W Williams). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - B Arroyo 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Hopper (2, 2nd base by W Williams/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - A Dunn (H Pence at 3rd base).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .233
M Loretta 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .330
L Berkman 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .242
C Lee lf 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .315
H Pence cf 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .354
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
A Everett ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .212
B Ausmus c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .241
W Williams p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .120

Totals 14 4 6 4 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - H Pence 2 (9, B Arroyo 2); C Lee (16, B Arroyo). 3B - B Ausmus
(1, B Arroyo). RBI - C Biggio (17), C Lee 2 (48), H Pence (19). 2-out RBI - C
Lee 2, H Pence. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Everett 1. Team LOB
- 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 004 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 3 6 4 4 0 1 0 4.35

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Williams 3 3 0 0 1 6 0 5.40

Pitches-strikes: B Arroyo 49-34; W Williams 56-35. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Arroyo 2-5; W Williams 0-2. Batters faced: B Arroyo 14; W Williams 12.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>