The Reds did just about all of their damage in the first two innings, and pretty much destroyed the Astros in a 7-3 win that wasn't even that close.
*The loss drops the Astros to 2-6 against Cincinnati this season.
*In the seven games since the Astros 10-4 win against Cincinnati, they've scored more than three runs just twice, and have allowed five or more runs five times.
*In the last four games, the Astros have been outscored 24-9.
*Brett Myers allowed a 1st inning homer to Jay Bruce. It's the 10th homer he's allowed this season (50.1IP). He allowed 20HR in 223.2IP in 2010.
*Myers gave up 10H/6ER. Myers struck out eight Reds, tying a season high, but he also walked four batters - a season high. He has allowed 8+ hits in a start in five of his last six starts.
*Sergio Escalona made his Astros debut, walking the only batter he faced, who later scored on an Enerio Del Rosario-allowed hit. So Escalona's ERA is the dreaded INF.
*Still, a bullpen of Escalona, Del Rosario, Lopez, and Melancon allowed 5H/1ER, 4K:2BB in 3IP.
*The Reds had the bases loaded, though, in the 7th and in the 8th for a total of four outs, and got one run.
*Humberto Quintero, Michael Bourn, and Angel Sanchez all drew walks in the 8th inning (off Aroldis Chapman, who also hit Matt Downs in the foot - which probably currently looks like an eggplant). Those three walks in one inning are as many, or more, than the Astros have drawn in 26 games this season.
*And with Sanchez on 2nd in the 8th, Carlos Lee flied out, and Wallace and Hall struck out to end the scoring.
*After one hit in his last 24PAs, Brett Wallace went 2x4.
*Hunter Pence is hitting .301/.344/.486 after these 36 games, with 33K:10BB, 30RBI - 2nd-most in the NL. In the same time frame in 2010, Pence was hitting .248/.265/.419 (.239 BABIP), with 14K:3BB 15RBI.
*Bill Hall got himself another 0x4, with 2Ks. His 40K in 111ABs are 4th in the NL - behind Dexter Fowler (43), Drew Stubbs (42), and Ryan Howard (41).
*Chris Johnson got another 0x4, and has one hit in his last 17 PAs. It's been 73 PAs (since April 16) since he drew a walk. Johnson has seen a three-ball count 20 times in 117 PAs (2BB), but has worked a 3-0 or 3-1 count just six times.
*Man of the Match: Hunter Pence, I suppose.
*Goat of the Game: Bill Hall. 0x4, 2Ks, 0x2 w/RISP, and ended two innings.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
