Reds 5, Astros 1
Edgar Renteria hit a grand slam and Homer Bailey pitched eight strong innings as the Cincinnati Reds cruised past the host Houston Astros 5-1 on Tuesday.
Ramon Hernandez added an RBI double and Aroldis Chapman worked a scoreless ninth for the Reds, who have won four of five to pull back to within two games of . 500 at 54-56.
Cincinnati snapped a scoreless tie in the fifth when Chris Heisey and Hernandez led off with back-to-back doubles against Wandy Rodriguez (7-8). Rodriguez walked Bailey and Drew Stubbs to load the bases, and then left an 88-mph pitch over the inside corner to Renteria, who blasted it over the left field wall for his second homer.
That was plenty of support for Bailey (6-5), who allowed five hits, walked three and struck out four in his longest outing of the season. The 25-year-old righthander threw only 101 pitches but was removed for a pinch-hitter with the Reds threatening to add more in the ninth.
Luis Durango drove in Houston’s run with his first hit of the season in the fifth.