Cincinnati Reds defeat Houston Astros 5-1 – MLB Update
Homer Bailey tossed some of the best eight innings of the season on Tuesday, August 2 to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the Houston Astros 5-1 at Minute Maid Park.
Bailey managed to put in an amazing performance. His team-mates appreciated his effort and was recognized by the rivals as well.
The team manager was looking forward to a good game from Bailey. "I was hoping that him pitching in front of the home folks here and getting some of mama's home cooking was going to help him," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said.
Even Houston’s manager could not help mention Bailey in terms that insinuated praise. "Two of the times he's thrown really well have been here, and I know he's from Texas," Houston’s manager Brad Mills said. "So that might have something to do with it; I
don't know."
While it was Wandy Rodriguez who started the game with a shut-out first, Bailey followed by an equally strong inning, incapacitating the Astros’ hitters with impeccable precision, paving the way for a great game ahead.
While the two starters of the respective teams thundered and virtually disarmed the hitters of the both teams, it was the fifth inning that completely changed the form of the game as Rodriguez was subject to big hits by the Reds’ hitters.
Entering into the fifth inning, giving up no runs, Rodriguez was first taken to task by Ramon Hernandez who hit a ground ball double to score the first run for the Cincinnati Reds. While Rodriguez was supposed to contain other hitters, Edgar Renteria came
with something big.
Renteria struck the most blistering hit of the night --- a grand slam that took the Cincinnati Reds’ score to 5-0, leaving the entire Houston Astros open-mouthed. The 3-hit five runs fifth inning almost was a decisive inning for the Reds.
Although Rodriguez was fine enough in other four innings, the fifth brought about devastation.
"That one inning did him in," Mills said. "The first four innings he gave up one hit and was throwing the ball extremely well. That fifth inning, the big at-bat was the one to the pitcher, ended up walking him on nine pitches."
Homer Bailey allowed only a run in the fifth inning that brought the Reds’ lead down to 5-1, but Bailey did not yield to the Astros’ hitters. Bailey’s pitching spell was extraordinary, sending the Astros’ hitters packing.
Once Bailey pitched the eighth inning, a shut-out once again, allowing only one run in his eighth inning spell, Aroldis Chapman came as a closer who threw strong enough innings to turn the game into a 5-1 victory for the Cincinnati Reds.
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