Boxscore

It was really looking like Mike Leake was going to be taking home a quality, innings-eating start with a hard-luck loss last night. But then in came the cavalry and suddenly he’s got the W in the 4-2 defeat of the Astros.

Leake worked 8.0 innings and allowed just 2 runs (earned) on 7 hits and a walk. That’s not much to give up, but the Reds didn’t manage to muster that many runs until the top of the ninth. Aroldis Chapman pitched an excellent bottom of the ninth: 0 runs, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts. You might even say that Chapman fella is an upgrade over last year’s closer, Fransisco Cordero who, coincidentally, was pitching for the Astros last night in the top of the ninth.

Recent call-up Xavier Paul got the Reds on the board in the sixth by knocking in Brandon Phillips, plus he tacked on the insurance run in the ninth. Paul was 3-for-5 on the night. He’s hitting .375 in his 8 ABs this season.

Drew Stubbs was the big, dramatic hero, though. With one out and Zack Cozart already on first, he hit a home run over the left-field wall to take a 3-2 lead. He went 3-for-4 with a walk, but who’s going to remember anything but that homer?

Also notable: Phillips went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored and Jay Bruce drew 3 walks.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 57-40: a beautiful 17 games over .500 if only 2.5 games over the Pirates. They go for the sweep of the Astros tonight in Houston. Homer Bailey (RHP, 9-6, 3.74 ERA) looks pretty good in his matchup against Bud Norris (RHP, 5-8, 5.33 ERA). First pitch at 8:05 p.m.

Boxscore

Used to be that the name “Wandy Rodriguez” struck fear into the hearts of Reds everywhere, but lately his starts have been just another game against the worst team around. It was true last night, when the Reds beat the Astros 8-3.

It wasn’t for lack of hits from the Astros, though. In Mat Latos’s 5.0 inning start, he gave up 8 hits and 2 walks, resulting in 2 runs (earned). It took him 95 pitches to get through that many innings, so he probably was on his way out even if he hadn’t rolled his ankle partway through the fifth.

Jose Arredondo took over in the sixth and was the only pitcher for the Reds who didn’t give up a hit. Bill Bray gave up one in his 0.1 innings of work. Sam LeCure gave up one, plus two walks and a run in his 1.0 innings. Sean Marshall gave up one in the remaining 1.2.

Lucky for all of them, the Reds were putting up even more hits, and stringing them together for runs as well. Brandon Phillips, Ryan Ludwick, and Todd Frazier each went 3-for-6 on the night, and Chris Heisey went 2-for-4. Drew Stubbs went 2-for-6, which is pretty good…it just doesn’t look as impressive compared to the others. Even LeCure got on when he was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning.

It was exactly the sort of game you’d expect to see between a rising, first-place team and a bedraggled, last-place team. It was sort of hard to watch, though, both because I felt for the Astros and their fans and also because I remember so vividly what it was like watching games like that when my team was rebuilding.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 56-40. The Pirates lost last night, so the Reds’ lead in the division is extended to 1.5 games. The Cardinals lost last night, too, and are now 6.0 games back. The Reds continue the crusade against the Astros tonight at 8:05 p.m. Mike Leake (RHP, 3-6, 4.25 ERA) goes head-to-head with Lucas Harrell (RHP, 7-7, 4.24 ERA).

Boxscore

Though the Brewers struck first with a run in the top of the third inning yesterday, the Reds answered with two in the bottom of the inning, and that’s all it would take to wrap up the sweep of Milwaukee.

Johnny Cueto got his 12th win of the season by putting in 7.0 innings of 1-run work. He did see a lot of runners on base, giving up 8 hits and an intentional walk, but they were conveniently distributed among his 9 strikeouts to keep the men from the crossing the plate.

Logan Ondrusek worked the eighth inning and didn’t allow a run despite adding 2 more hits to the Astros’ total. Aroldis Chapman closed it out. He didn’t give the Astros any more hits, but he did contribute a couple more strikeouts to give all the fans at GABP pizza and ice cream.

Brandon Phillips continued to tear it up, going 2-for-3 with a sac fly that brought in a run in the third. Wilson Valdez also had a multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with the other RBI in the third. It wasn’t exactly a show (there wasn’t a single home run by either team, which is the first time there has been a homer-less game in GABP in 74 straight games), but it was still a win.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 55-40. That’s a season-high 15 games over .500, and a good thing, too, with the Pirates still only half a game back. The Reds travel to Houston tonight to take on the Astros at 8:05 p.m. Mat Latos (RHP, 7-3, 4.33 ERA) faces off against Wandy Rodriguez (LHP, 7-8, 3.75 ERA).

Boxscore

It was a nice, easy win for the Reds yesterday: they scored big early and led the whole time.

Bronson Arroyo finally got his fifth win of the season last night. He put in 6.0 innings of work, allowing 2 runs (earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks. Jose Arredondo, Sean Marshall, and Sam LeCure each got two outs without allowing a run. Logan Ondrusek pitched a hitless ninth.

The majority of the scoring happened in the first inning. With one out, Zack Cozart, Brandon Phillips, and Jay Bruce each singled, with that last single bringing in Cozart. Scott Rolen hit a sac fly to bring in Phillips, which just took him off base for Ryan Ludwick’s 2-run home run. Phillips hit a 2-run homer in the seventh for the rest of the scoring.

The win brings the Reds record to 54-40. Four guys went 2-for-4, which is the sort of thing that helps makes the absence of Joey Votto a little easier. The Reds are 4-2 since Votto has been out for arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He has already stopped using his crutches after the surgery and will probably be back in less than the 4 weeks initially suggested. Hopefully the team can keep this going even when they have him back.

The Reds go for the sweep against the Brewers today at 1:10 p.m. Johnny Cueto (RHP, 11-5, 2.28 ERA) defends against Mike Fiers (RHP, 3-3, 2.01 ERA).

Boxscore

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Cincinnati Reds had a good start. And this one from Homer Bailey was great.

For the third time in his last 4 outings, Bailey went 8 innings. He dominated the Milwaukee Brewers of that time, allowing just 6 hits, walking none, and striking out a career-high 10. In short, it was an amazing performance. And it’s one that’s becoming more and more customary from Bailey.

So far in 2012, Bailey is turning in the best year of his career. He has his lowest ERA at 3.74 (and highest ERA+ of his career at 112). He’s got his lowest WHIP at 1.271, and is approaching career highs in games started, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Wins aren’t the best measure of a starter, but with the win last night, Bailey did tie his career-high of 9 wins. Oh, and did I mention he’s just 26 years old?

Despite how long it feels like Bailey’s been with the Reds, he’s still young. And more and more, it’s looking like the year he really puts things together. He’s come a long way from looking like Keanu Reeves’ grandmother.

Of course, Bailey couldn’t win the game by himself. The offense had to score some runs. All 3 of the Reds’ run came from solo shots. Zack Cozart hit his 10th, Jay Bruce hit his 19th, and Scott Rolen hit his 4th.

Bruce broke a bad 0-19 slump with a 2-3 game. With Joey Votto out, this would be an awesome time for Bruce to go on one of his patented Player-of-the Week tears. And Rolen was playing with more energy than I’ve seen all year. He went 2-3, as well. The fastball he hit for his homer was hit with more authority than I’ve seen him swing with since 2010. If Bruce, Rolen, and Brandon Phillips–the hero of the previous game–can keep stepping up, this stretch without Votto could turn into a big positive for the team.

The win keeps the Reds in first place, 1/2 game ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds look to increase that lead when they play their second game against the Brewers tonight. Bronson Arroyo will start against Yavani Gallardo. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm EDT.