Reds crush Houston 12-5, take series win over Astros

The Cincinnati Reds got a leadoff homerun from Jonathan India in the first inning and went on to score eight more runs. It was more than enough for the home team to clinch a victory and secure a series win over the Houston Astros.

Nick Martinez struck out two in the top of the first inning. His offense helped him in the bottom of the inning. Jonathan India led off with a 436-foot homer to center to put the Reds ahead. Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl came through with doubles, and then Ty France came through with an RBI single to make it 3-0.

Jake Fraley and Santiago Espinal each singled to load the bases as the pitches increased for Spencer Arrighetti. Amed Rosario hit a ball to shortstop, but Jeremy Pena couldn’t quite handle it and the ball rolled up the middle for a 2-run double that extended the lead to 5-0. Jonathan India followed with a third single in the inning to re-load the bases. Elly De La Cruz then hit a chopper that went just over the head of a leaping Zach Dezenzo at first base to drive in two more runs and make it 7-0.

After 38 pitches, the Astros had to go to their bullpen and brought in 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 scored 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 of the day and then scored on a single by Tyler Stephenson.

In the 5th inning, 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 to center and new shortstop Mauricio Dubon had the ball knocked off his glove for an error. Jonathan India followed with a walk. They would both score on 2-out singles by TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer, extending the Reds 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 start the inning and that helped the Astros break things open as they would hit three singles with a walk in between – all with two outs – to score three runs and make it a 12-4 game. Brent Suter, who was on the mound for the final run scoring single of the 6th, would come out again for the 7th inning and give up another run on a homerun by Jon Singleton that cut the Cincinnati lead to seven runs.

As the 8th inning began, Suter was back on the mound for the Reds and he retired the Astros in order this time. Cincinnati also went down in order in their half of the inning. With the Reds eating up their bullpen and all available pitching in recent weeks, Brent Suter returned to the mound to try to pick up a 3.1 inning save and he finished the job with a 14-pitch 9th inning to secure a 12-5 victory and give the home team a series win with one game to play.

Key moment of the match

Jonathan India hit a home run in the first inning, setting the tone for what would be a nine-run inning.

Comments worth mentioning

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.

Brent Suter’s save was only the second of his career. He has pitched in 249 major league games. The other save of his career came in the second game of a doubleheader in August 2021.

Nick Martinez allowed just one earned run in his 5.2 innings, lowering his ERA to 3.67 on the season. His seven strikeouts in the game tied a season record.

Spencer Arrighetti had struck out 10 or more batters in three of his last five starts. He struck out none on Wednesday. He allowed nine runs in the first inning and did not finish the period. Arrighetti threw 32.1 innings in August and allowed just seven runs.

What’s Next for the Cincinnati Reds

Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds

Thursday, September 5, 1:10 PM ET

Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.55 ERA) vs. Rhett Lowder (0-1, 2.25 ERA)