Greg Reynolds (1-2, 5.66) vs Brad Peacock (5-5, 5.27)
So. In case you missed it, the Reds are gonna be a playoff team. The Astros very aren't. Both teams fought hard for the series finale, but too many mistakes against good competition will always come back to bite you in the end. And so the Reds complete the sweep, 6-5 in 13 innings, dropping Houston 50 games below .500 at 51-101, with 10 to play.
On the Mound:
*Brad Peacock did at least well enough to give his team a chance to win, leaving one out shy of six frames and down 4-2, but the Astros would tie it up before the 7th. His line: 5.2 IP / 6 H / 4 R / 3 ER / 3 BB / 5 K.
*Kevin Chapman began the reliever parade, with 1.1 perfect innings to get Houston through the 7th.
*Josh Zeid allowed a hit and fanned two in a scoreless 8th.
*Josh Fields threw 22 pitches. 16 of the first 19 were balls. But somehow, after walking the bases loaded and falling behind 3-0 to Ryan Ludwick, he threw 3 straight called strikes to escape the 9th unscathed.
*Chia-Jen Lo got the first call in extras, allowing a hit and walking two while striking out three in two scoreless innings.
*And finally, Jorge de Leon. He pitched a perfect 12th, but 3 BB and a two-run double burned him in the 13th, tagging him for the loss.
At the Plate:
*Again the Astros out-hit their opponent, 13-9, with Matt Dominguez leading the way. Dominguez went 3 for 6 with a double and a walk.
*Brandon Barnes got the Astros on the board with a solo HR (#8) in the 3rd, finishing 2 for 4.
*Carlos Corporan was the leading RBI man, going 1 for 2 with a double, a sac fly, and 2 RBI.
*Jose Altuve remains white hot, going 2 for 6 with a double and a walk, but a critical baserunning error in the 11th might have cost Houston the game. More on that below...
*L.J. Hoes entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 6th, but went 2 for 4 with a RBI double and a run scored.
*Chris Carter also doubled, going 2 for 5 with 2 BB, a K, and a run scored.
*Trevor Crowe went 1 for 6 with a RBI, a walk, and 2 K.
*Jonathan Villar (0 for 4, 2 BB, 2 K) and Marc Krauss (0 for 5, BB, 2 K) were hitless, but each scored a run.
Turning Point:
Back-to-back walks to Billy Hamilton and Shin-Soo Choo, an intentional walk to Joey Votto, and a 2-RBI double by Jay Bruce ultimately sunk de Leon and the Astros in the 13th, but Houston's best opportunity to win the game came two innings prior. With the game still tied 4-4, Brandon Barnes led off the bottom of the 11th with a single, then was sac bunted up to second by Jonathan Villar. Alfredo Simon issued a free pass to the white hot Altuve, and Trevor Crowe followed immediately with a single, but Barnes was held up at third. Altuve kept chugging too hard around second on the play and ended up getting tagged out between second and third for the second out, then Marc Krauss K'd to end the threat.
Man of the Match:
Carlos Corporan. Only Tal's Hill kept him from a two-run HR in the 6th, and then extra innings would never have happened.
Goat of the Game:
Of course de Leon gave up the winning runs, but going with Jose Altuve. Costly mistake at a crucial moment.
