The Cincinnati Reds got a leadoff home run from Jonathan India in the 1st inning and went on to score eight more runs in the inning after that. It was more than enough for the home team to pick up a win and guarantee themselves a series victory over the Houston Astros.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros (75-64) |
5 | 9 | 2 |
| Cincinnati Reds (67-73) | 12 | 14 | 1 |
| W: Martinez (7-6) L: Arrighetti (7-12) SV: Suter (1) |
|||
| Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Nick Martinez picked up two strikeouts in the top of the 1st inning. His offense helped him out in the bottom of the inning. Jonathan India led off with a 436-foot homer to center to put the Reds in front. Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl came through with doubles and then Ty France came through with an RBI single that made it 3-0.
Jake Fraley and Santiago Espinal both followed up with walks to load the bases as the pitch count for Spencer Arrighetti mounted. Amed Rosario hit a ball toward shortstop, but Jeremy Pena couldn’t quite come up with it and the ball trickled into center for a 2-run double that extended the lead to 5-0. Jonathan India followed up with a third walk in the inning, loading the bases once again. Elly De La Cruz then hit a chopper that just got over the head of a leaping Zach Dezenzo at first base to bring in two more runs and make it 7-0.
After 38 pitches the Astros had to go to their bullpen and brought int Taylor Scott. On the first pitch he threw, De La Cruz stole second base. Tyler Stephenson then came through with a 2-run single to cap off a 9-run inning for the Reds.
Houston got one of those runs back in the 2nd inning after Alex Bregman doubled to lead off the inning and then came around to score on a 2-out single by Ben Gamel. Cincinnati got that run back an inning later when Elly De La Cruz doubled for the second time on the day and then scored on a single from Tyler Stephenson.
In the bottom of the 5th the Astros pulled four starters and emptied their bench. As the old saying goes – the ball will find out. Amed Rosario hit a chopper back up the middle and new shortstop Mauricio Dubon had the ball clank off of his glove for an error. Jonathan India followed up with a walk. They would both come around to score on 2-out singles by TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer as the Reds extended their lead to 12-1.
Houston would get something going in the top of the 6th against Nick Martinez. Yainer Diaz reached on an error by Santiago Espinal to begin the inning and that helped open things up for the Astros as they would put together three singles with a walk mixed in – all with two outs – to score three runs and make it a 12-4 ballgame. Brent Suter, who was on the mound for the final run-scoring single in the 6th game back out for the 7th inning and gave up another run on a homer by Jon Singleton that cut the Cincinnati lead down to seven runs.
When the 8th inning began it was Suter back on the mound for the Reds and he retired the Astros in order this time around. Cincinnati also went down in order in their half of the inning. With the Reds eating through their bullpen and any and all available pitchers over the last few weeks, Brent Suter returned to the mound to try and pick up a 3.1 inning save and he got the job done with a 14-pitch 9th inning to seal a 12-5 win and give the home team a series win with one game still to be played.
Key Moment of the Game
Jonathan India leading off the 1st inning with a home run and setting the tone for what turned into a 9-run inning.
Notes Worth Noting
Elly De La Cruz and Ty France both had 3-hit games. Jonathan India went 1-3 with two walks. Both he and De La Cruz scored three runs in the game.
The save by Brent Suter was only the second of his career. He’s pitched out of the bullpen in 249 big league games. The other save in his career came in the second game of a doubleheader in August of 2021.
Nick Martinez only allowed one earned run in his 5.2 innings and lowered his ERA to 3.67 on the season. His seven strikeouts in the game matched a season high.
Spencer Arrighetti had struck out 10 or more hitters in three of his last five starts. He struck out no one on Wednesday. He allowed nine runs in the 1st inning and didn’t complete the frame. Arrighetti threw 32.1 innings in August and only allowed seven runs.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Houston Astros vs Cincinnati Reds
Thursday September 5th, 1:10pm ET
Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.55 ERA) vs Rhett Lowder (0-1, 2.25 ERA)
The post Reds crush Houston 12-5, pick up a series win over the Astros appeared first on Redleg Nation.