Reds 2, Astros 1
W: Matt Belisle (5-4) | L: Chad Qualls (4-2) | S: David Weathers (10)
Pigpen: 2973 (1-3)
Astros.com recap (not Footer)
Yahoo! recap from AP
The good news. Jason Jennings returned from right elbow tendinitis to pitch five shutout innings in his first start since April 8th. Jennings struggled with his control early in the game, allowing a pair of walks and a base hit, but he was helped by a double play and escaped further damage, tossing 30 pitches in the first frame. He settled down nicely and was removed after reaching his pitch limit.
The other good news. With two outs in the bottom of the 2nd, Craig Biggio hit career double #651 that hit the chalk down the LF line. Adam Everett followed with a sinking liner in front of the Reds centerfielder, who tried a front dive but came up empty as the ball rolled deep into center. Biggio trotted home and Everett kicked it into gear and came all the way around, sliding into home just as the relay throw arrived. He was called out but the replay clearly showed the tag missed.
The bad news. The Astros hoped to return home and break the losing streak. Didn’t happen, as they lose for the ninth straight game. Thanks for that, Alkie. Former Austinite Matt (Raups) Belisle mowed down the Astros for 7 2/3 innings, allowing a mere four hits and punching out a career high eight with no walks. Shaky David Weathers somehow escaped a ninth inning bases-loaded mess and lucked out for his 10th save.
Rick White is stinking up the joint, on and off the field. He was responsible for the tying run after Jennings made his early exit, and it could have been much worse as Brad Lidge escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam by allowing only a single run on a sac fly. Chad Qualls was next in line and pitched two strong innings, striking out four but made one mistake, and that was deposited into the Astros bullpen as the Reds took a 2-1 lead in the 8th.
The final frame brought back memories of when they could actually win a game late, but it wasn’t meant to be, as the normally reliable Carlos Lee grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to end the game.
The streak must end!