Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez recorded a mere four outs while allowing eight runs as the Cincinnati Reds struck early and often and pounded the Astros 14-3 in an embarrassing home defeat Friday night.
The Reds led off the game with a single, a stolen base and throwing error by catcher Eric Munson , a walk, an RBI single followed by an RBI double, another walk, another free pass that walked in the third run of the inning, and a two-run double before a single out was recorded. 5-0 Reds in the first.
The second inning wasn’t much better. After the Astros went three and out in their half of the first inning, the Reds again struck reaching on an error, a single, a pair of walks, and another single complete with throwing error that plated two more runs and chased Rodriguez to the showers with one out in the second and runners on first and third, trailing 7-0.
Enter Chris Sampson , the 28 year old rookie just called up from Round Rock and making his major league debut. He allowed a liner to left that Preston Wilson misjudged and had to jump high to catch, allowing the lumbering Adam Dunn to score from third with the Reds eight run.
Sampson was one of the rare bright spots of the game, although his numbers may not reflect the entire story. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and left to a standing ovation from his hometown crowd in the seventh inning.
“It was indescribable,” Sampson said. “It happened so fast, I really didn’t have time to think.”
The Astros scored single runs in the third, fourth, and eighth innings but was never able to get that big hit with runners on to cut into the Reds lead.
Trever Miller and Dave Borowski mopped up the final two innings with Borowski allowing a pinch-hit three run homer to a backup catcher in the ninth to complete the rout.
Saturdays matchup is Fernando Nieve vs. Brandon Arroyo at 6:05 CST.