Reds Now Sit a Half Game Back in the NL Central

By:  Cooper Ledford

The Cincinnati Reds were in Houston, Texas taking on the Astros to begin a 3 game series.  Travis Wood was on the hill for the Reds, and on the hill for the 'Stros was Bud Norris.  Wood and Norris both gave up 4 earned runs, and both got no decisions.

The Astros got on the board first, in the 1st inning when Hunter Pence hit an RBI single to plate Berkman, and it was 1-0 Houston.

The Reds tied it up in the 4th inning when Jay Bruce hit a sac fly to plate Orlando Cabrera, and it was tied up.  Same inning, Ryan Hanigan hit a single, that would allow Cairo and Stubbs to score, 3-1 the score. 

The Texas boys would get a run back in the bottom of the 4th inning when Chris Johnson (not the running back for the Titans) hit a pop up to shallow right field, Jay Bruce was not calling it (which he should have been), so Phillips had to make the catch, Hunter Pence would score and it was once again a one run ball game, 3-2. 

In the top of the 5th inning, Joey Votto hit a solo home run, his 24th homer of the season, and it was 4-2 with the Redlegs on top.  But, not for long.

In the home half of the 6th inning, with a man on, Hunter Pence hit a home run, and it was a tie ball game daggonit.  But, the Reds would be back with the bats.

In the 8th inning, with 2 on and no outs, Jay Bruce hit an RBI double, that would plate Joey Votto, and it was 5-4.  Same inning, Drew Stubbs hit a sac fly (which would have been a home run at just about every other ball park) to center field, and that would plate Jonny Gomes and it was 6-4.

Then, in the bottom of the 9th inning, Francisco Cordero game into the game, trying to pick up another save, and he got the save, but not without some sweat and a threat, there was 2 on with 1 out, but Cordero was able to get the final two outs, and with that the Reds win.

With this win, the Reds are only a half game back in the National League Central, and are 10 games over the .500 mark, and have a record of 54-44.

Logan Ondrusek got the win, the loser is Byrdak the loser, and Cordero got the save, his 27th of the season.

Tomorrows game is at 7:05 PM  ET and will be televised on FS Ohio.  The probable pitchers are: Johnny Cueto (who was not at the park today, soar throat) and the Reds killer who will be traded soon (probably), Roy Oswalt.