Andy Pettitte was Andy Pettitte; 7 innings, 4 singles, no runs, laser control, Reds bitching that the leftfield wall is too short. And where there?s Andy there?s his good friend Mo, providing solid defense.
He ended the 4th with a hustle play, reaching into the Reds dugout and picked a foul ball off LaRue?s back (about whom Brownie was at pains to point out, is 20 days short of being eligible for FA next season). Then in the 5th, he made what will be the highlight play, an athletic reaction dive to his left to snare a liner. But the best was the fundamentally sound play he made on the bouncer to end the inning; he charged in and got off an accurate throw on the run.
But enough about pitching and defense. As we are too well aware, and the Reds are finding out, you can?t win without runs. Up till the 5th the Astros had 2 hits, both of which were erased by dps. Berkman started the 5th lashing a double, Lane followed with a homer, that he scooped off the dirt into what Ensberg is calling the ?Biggio Box?. That?s the right most corner of the Crawford seats. That would be all the Astros needed, but not all they would get. Burke singled, Everett singled, and Ausmus cracked a lazy double off a ludicrously shallow Junyah. 4-0 Astros.
In the 7th, more of the same. The bottom of the order continued their juggernaut. Burke ripped a ball down the line which was hit too hard, and he had to stop at first. Vizcaino knocked a five foot single, Taveras singled Burke home, then Biggio, RBI, 6-0 Astros.
The Reds brought in another Texican for the 8th, Keisler. He bounced 4 balls to Berkman, while the cameras were on the hunt for another Texas born Red; and focused on Dunn, who was caught shaking his head in disgust. Keisler, righted his delivery and got the ball up a little, unfortunately that was right where the Astros wanted it. Burke picked up his 3rd hit, a double, (Self may have goosed him a little) Ausmus singles in two runs, Vizcaino homers right in the Biggio Box, the Reds will bitch about that one too,?. Slobbaknocka. 10-0
Gallo pitched the 9th, turns out Reds hate lefties, Ausmus played second and Gipson played center.
Oswalt is focused for tomorrow against Jose Ferrar look alike Adam Harang, 7:00
