Matt Dominguez keeps Houston Astros on top with 5-3 win against Cincinnati Reds - MLB Update
Matt Dominguez’s home-run in the ninth startles the Cincinnati Reds as he helps the Houston Astros earn a 5-3 win at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio on September 7, 2012 in the first game of the three match series.
Astros were the underdogs as the innings progressed. Trailing by one run, they entered into the last inning of the match. In light of the fact that the Astros were scoreless from the second through the eighth, it was not hard to believe that they will end
up the ninth in a same fashion and will be defeated.
However the start of the ninth saw the Astros in a totally different shape. Their batters immediately settled on the bases and began waiting for a hit from them on the plate.
Ready to reach the home-plate and score runs, the home-run struck by Dominguez triggered their hustle. Thus, the Astros went past the Reds with three runs scored in the last inning.
As far as the pitchers were concerned, Lucas Harrell started for the Astros. For as long as he stayed on the mound, Astros struggled to reach past the Reds. Apart from leaking runs, he walked four batters and yielded seven hits. The reason why the Astros
managed to keep Reds from substantiating their lead was the series of scoreless innings completed by their relievers.
The last inning that Wilton Lopez threw accompanied pressure which explains the level of effectiveness he had to maintain as a hurler to keep the batters scoreless. He rightfully earned the save on Friday.
Dominguez after the match talked about his home-run and how he was wary of the fastballs that Aroldis Chapman could throw.
"There's nothing else you can really look for," Dominguez said. "He got a fastball up in the zone. I took a good swing at the first one and fouled it off. I happened to get the barrel on the second one. A couple of days ago, it was hard to hold a bat. Today
I could still feel it, but with all the adrenalin and stuff going in the game, I didn't feel it too much."
Astros will be mindful of the fact that they did not win easily and that there remain issues that can become the cause of their downfall in upcoming matches. They will be looking to work them out and clinch the series victory.
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