The Houston Astros just have not found their winning ways against the Cincinnati Reds for the past five years. Their streak of losing continued on Thursday.
Starting pitcher Hunter Brown pitched six stellar innings. But reliever Bryan Abreu gave up a solo homer to Ty France in the seventh inning and it held up as Cincinnati won 1-0. The National League Central Division team brought out their brooms and sent H0uston out of Great American Ball Park shaking their heads.
Houston Astros Can’t Win In Cincinnati
France literally scorched Houston Astros pitching in the three-game sweep, going 9-for-11 in the batter’s box. No one was able to get him out on a consistent basis.
While France was smashing hits left and right, Reds starter Rhett Lowder was fooling Astros hitters. Lowder was in his second major-league start on Thursday and only allowed four hits over 6 1/3 innings. The Astros, sometimes, are not able to solve the riddle of a young pitcher. It happened again in Cincinnati.
The Reds now have won nine straight games against Houston. Despite the loss, the Astros still remain in first place in the American League West Division. Seattle has gained a little bit with a couple of wins in their series against the Oakland A’s.
“We knew they were an aggressive team. I had to come out with my best stuff and get them out as fast as possible,” said Lowder, The Associated Press reported. Lowder has allowed just one run in his first 10 1/3 innings. “I feel really good with where my games at right now.”
Lowder walked just four and struck out three Astros hitters.
“There is no question that he’s showing he was prepared to be here and he’s doing it in such a way that shows he knows how to pitch,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He located pitches, great mix, four different pitches. To do it against that team with their lineup is a great experience for him. He will continue to get better.”
Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez was just 1-for-11 in the three-game series. The Astros had some fielding miscues during the series, yet Jeremy Pena was able to pick up a couple of hits and key defensive plays.
“We had some great fielding plays that kept us in a close game,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We had some opportunities to score but couldn’t get the big hit. It was a grind.”
Joe Espada Proud of Brown’s Start
Espada spoke highly of Brown’s start after the game, too. “Hunter Brown gave us the start that we needed,” Espada said, MLB.com reported. “He gave us a strong six innings. He was really, really good. We just couldn’t get a big hit today.”
Espada took an early exit from the game. He got ejected by plate umpire Brian O’Nora after he signaled Alex Bregman was hit by a pitch. First base umpire Brennan Miller signaled foul ball, though, which became the call. Replays did show Bregman was struck on the right arm, but a video review ruled the call on the field stood.
Bregman took a called third strike after Espada had come out to argue the call. Espada apparently kept up his argument with O’Nora from the dugout. The umpire got tired of hearing it from Espada and shipped him out, Espada’s fourth ejection this season.
Bregman also had high compliments regarding Brown’s effort for the Houston Astros. “He’s a stud, probably since the end of May and June,” Bregman said. “He’s probably been the best pitcher in baseball, or one of the top three. So it’s been fun to play defense behind him and watch him grow. He’s one of the elite starting arms in the game now.”
But the really big news Astros fans have been waiting for is that Kyle Tucker is pretty much back.
“He ran, and hopefully we could get him in there in the series against the D-backs,” Espada said prior to Thursday’s game. “It looks really good, so [we’re] very hopeful. Probably [Friday] could be the day, so we’ll see.”
The Astros will open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night at Minute Maid Park. Lefthander Framber Valdez (13-6, 3.11) goes up against Diamondbacks righthander Brandon Pfaadt (9-7, 4.32).
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