Sam LeCure Pitches Well, Reds Hit Great

By:  Cooper Ledford

The 1st Place Cincinnati Reds were hosting the Houston Astros, Friday, to start a three game series.  Sam LeCure was making his MLB debut, and the Reds were trying to stay in 1st place, for if they lost, they would be tied with St. Louis, but they won 15-6.  Be prepared for a LONG recap, because I am going to talk about all the scoring plays and Sam LeCure's pitching preformance.  Start time: 10:55 PM ET (Just so you know how long it takes me to make this).

To start things off, in the 1st inning, the Astros scored first when Hunter Pence hit a solo home run, his 8th homer of the season, it was 1-0.  

The Reds would get a run in their half of the 1st inning, when Brandon Phillips tied it up with a solo home run.  Same inning, Jonny Gomes would hit a triple, it plated Rolen, it was 2-1.

The 'Stros would tied it up in the 3rd, when Pence hit an RBI single, it was 2-2.  So, the game would be close for the rest of the game?   Not a bit.

The Reds would score three runs in the bottom of the 3rd, the first one was off of Scott Rolen's bat, as he hit an RBI double, then the other two runs were off of the bat of Jonny Gomes, as he hit a 2-run home run, it was 5-2.  Later on, in the 4th inning, Brandon Phillips hit a single, which plated two runners, it was 7-2.  Then, same inning, Jay Bruce would get an RBI, as he walked which brought a runner home, it was 8-2.   In the bottom of the 6th inning, Jonny Gomes would get ANOTHER hit, as he hit an RBI single, it was 9-2.  Same inning, Drew Stubbs hit an RBI single, it was 10-2, the Reds were still not done though, not even in that inning.  Drew Sutton came on to pinch hit whith the bases loaded, and then it happened, you know what I am talking about, a GRAND SALAMI, it was 14-2!

Houston would end Cincinnati's HUGE rallies in the 7th inning, when Carlos Lee hit an RBI double to plate Pence, it was 14-3.  Then, in the 8th inning, Blum hit an RBI ground out, it plated Manzella, it was 14-4.  Same inning, Bourn hit an RBI single, and then the former Red, Jeff Keppinger hit an RBI double, it was 14-6.  So Houston was alomst somewhat close to being back in it...right?  Maybe not.

In the bottom of the 8th, Hernandez hit an RBI single, it was 15-6, and that is how she finished.  Jonny Gomes, just so you know, was a double shy of the cycle, in his last at bat, he hit an easy single, but there was a runner in front of him, Cairo.  If Cairo was not on, Gomes probably would have been aggressive and tried for 2nd, but he couldn't, but a good night indeed for Gomes.

As for Sam LeCure, he went 6.0 innings, gave up 6 hits, 2 ER, 4 BB, and fanned 5.  Congratulations to Sam LeCure on a great MLB debut as he gets the win.  The Reds are now 9 games over .500.

End Time: 11:15 PM ET (Told ya' it would take me a while)