Recap: Houston vs. Cincinnati
Sports Network | September 24, 2008
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Randy Wolf was solid on the hill and Lance Berkman clubbed his 29th homer of the year, as the Houston Astros blanked the Cincinnati Reds, 5-0, to barely remain alive in the playoff chase.
Houston pulled within 3 1/2 games of the wild card lead, shared by Milwaukee and the New York Mets.
Wolf (12-12) got the win after tossing 6 2/3 innings and giving up eight hits and seven strikeouts with two walks. Berkman finished with two RBI for the Astros, who have won three of their last five games. Humberto Quintero drove in two runs and Hunter Pence drove in one in the middle contest of the three- game set.
Ramon Ramirez (1-1), making his fifth start in the majors, was saddled with the loss after yielding two runs on four hits over five innings. Jay Bruce had two hits for the Reds, who have just three losses over their last 11 tilts.
The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Kazuo Matsui led off the frame with a single, and three batters later came around to score as Berkman took the first pitch he saw deep to left field.
The bats went silent for the next few innings until Pence beat out an infield single to begin the seventh. Ty Wigginton then launched what appeared to be a homer to right, though Bruce had other ideas as he timed his leap perfectly to pull the ball back in play.
Quintero followed with a strikeout, but David Newhan clubbed a pinch-hit single back up the middle which brought on Daniel Ray Herrera in favor of Mike Lincoln. Matsui rendered the rally moot as he struck out to end the inning.
Houston padded its lead in the eighth. With one out, Miguel Tejada singled, Berkman walked and Geoff Blum legged out an infield single to load the bases. That brought Josh Roenicke in from the bullpen. Pence then drew a walk to drive in a run, Wigginton struck out and Quintero stroked a two-run single.
The Astros stranded seven runners and the Reds left 11 on base...Michael Bourn had an outfield assist for the Astros...Houston has won 11 of its 14 matchups with the Reds this season.
