Reds 3, Astros 2
Jay Bruce clinched the Cincinnati Reds their first division championship since 1995 with a walk-off solo homer in the ninth inning on Wednesday that forged a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros.
Aroldis Chapman (2-2) struck out a pair in the top of the ninth to earn the win for the Reds, who clinched the National League Central division.
Bruce led off the bottom of the ninth against Tim Byrdak (2-2) with the game knotted at 2-2. He sent his 22nd homer of the season deep over the center-field wall to spark the walk-off celebration.
Cincinnati grabbed an early run off Wandy Rodriguez in the first when Scott Rolen’s infield single plated Drew Stubbs. But the Astros responded right away, getting two runs in the second on Jason Castro’s RBI single and Rodriguez’s sacrifice bunt that scored Angel Sanchez.
Rodriguez cruised along until the sixth, when Orlando Cabrera and Joey Votto led off with singles and Rolen walked to load the bases. Rodriguez got Jonny Gomes to foul out but Brandon Phillips reached on an infield single to plate the tying run.
Rodriguez finished his night responsible for two earned runs on four hits and four walks in six innings, while striking out eight.
Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez also allowed two runs in six innings, yielding seven hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.