Joey Votto scored the go-ahead run on a wild
pitch in the seventh inning and the Cincinnati Reds overcame Jeff
Keppinger's first career multihomer game in a 6-5 victory over the
Houston Astros on Wednesday night.
In a game that featured seven solo homers in the first five
innings, Votto led off the seventh against Wesley Wright (3-3) with
an infield single and went to third on a single by Brandon
Phillips. Jeff Fulchino relieved Wright with Chris Coste going in
at catcher in a double switch. Fulchino bounced a pitch that Coste
couldn't handle, allowing Votto to break a 5-5 tie.
Jared Burton (1-0) retired all five batters he faced for the
win. Nick Masset pitched the eighth and Francisco Cordero worked
the ninth for his 37th save and third in three games.
Keppinger, a former Red, had two of Houston's five solo shots -
all off Reds starter Justin Lehr - but that wasn't enough to keep
the Astros from their fourth consecutive loss. Houston was swept in
three-game series in Cincinnati for the second time this season.
Jonny Gomes, mired in a 3-for-24 slump going into the game, led
off the second with his 20th homer to give Cincinnati a 1-0 lead.
Houston responded in the third with homers by Kaz Matsui, Carlos
Lee and Keppinger, all of which was followed by an out.
Matsui's was his second homer in two nights and seventh of the
season, matching the career high he set with the New York Mets in
2004. Lee's was his 26th, and Keppinger's was his sixth and first
in 32 at-bats since Aug 28.
Drew Stubbs led off the Reds' third with his seventh homer of
the season and second in two nights, and Scott Rolen added a tying
sacrifice fly.
The Reds took their second lead when Wladimir Balentien scored
on Lehr's suicide-squeeze bunt in the fourth, but Geoff Blum and
Keppinger came up with consecutive homers in the fifth. Blum's was
his 10th of the season and first in 60 at-bats since Aug. 16.
The Reds tied the score in the sixth on Balentien's leadoff
single, Craig Tatum's sacrifice and Stubbs' single.
The Astros also hit five on April 8 against the Cubs.
Lehr tied a club record by allowing the five home runs. He gave
up 11 hits and five runs with one walk and six strikeouts.
The last Reds pitcher to allow five homers in a game was Brandon
Claussen against the Cubs on July 18, 2005.
Houston right-hander Yorman Bazardo, in his third start of the
season and first since Aug. 28, allowed six hits and four runs.
NOTES: RHP Roy Oswalt's back problems will shut him down for the
rest of the season, Houston GM Ed Wade said before Wednesday's
game. ... RHP Jose Valverde is expected to meet the Astros in
Milwaukee after being left behind in Houston with a high fever and
sore throat. ... Reds RHP Johnny Cueto will most likely miss his
scheduled start Thursday against Florida after being sent home
before Wednesday's game with flu-like symptoms. Cueto wasn't
available for the team photo, which was shot Wednesday. LHP Matt
Maloney is scheduled to start for Cueto. ... The Reds honored Hall
of Fame writer Hal McCoy in pregame ceremonies. McCoy is retiring
after covering the Reds for the past 37 years for the Dayton Daily
News.
