Recap: Houston vs. Cincinnati
Sports Network | August 27, 2008
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Roy Oswalt continued his mastery of the Reds with seven strong innings to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-1 win over Cincinnati at Minute Maid Park. Oswalt (12-9) allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts for the Astros, who evened this three-game series and in the process snapped a two- game skid. Oswalt improved to an incredible 22-1 in his career against the Reds, including a 3-0 mark this season. Hunter Pence and Ty Wigginton both hit a two-run homer and Lance Berkman registered three hits with a run scored in the win. Jeff Keppinger scored the only run for the Reds, who have dropped three of their last four games. Josh Fogg (2-7) suffered the loss despite a solid outing in which he allowed two runs on six hits over six innings. Houston came to bat in the bottom of the fourth trailing 1-0, but Pence's 19th home run gave the Astros the lead. Berkman laced a one-out single and scored when Pence belted a fastball over the wall in left field. Oswalt tossed a perfect fifth and successfully worked around a leadoff walk in the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Reds rookie Jay Bruce singled but was quickly erased when Edwin Encarnacion grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Corey Patterson then stroked a base hit, but Oswalt ended his night strong by inducing a groundout off the bat of Paul Bako. Wigginton's two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh put the game away. Cincy reliever Gary Majewski got two quick outs, but Darin Erstad singled and Wigginton homered over the left-field wall for a 4-1 margin. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a scoreless eighth and Jose Valverde struck out the side in the ninth for his 34th save. Cincinnati's lone run was scored in the first inning. Keppinger legged out an infield single, headed for third on a Brandon Phillips double and scored when Joey Votto grounded out. Game Notes The only loss for Oswalt against the Reds in his career occurred on April 28, 2006...Houston has now won 13 of its last 15 overall versus the Reds...The Astros improved 35-29 at home in 2008. Game Notes The only loss for Oswalt against the Reds in his career occurred on April 28, 2006...Houston has now won 13 of its last 15 overall versus the Reds...The Astros improved 35-29 at home in 2008.
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