Fiers, Astros shut down Reds
HOUSTON -- Mike Fiers carried a shutout into the sixth inning while Evan Gattis and Luis Valbuena recorded multi-RBI games as the Houston Astros won the rubber match of their three-game interleague series with the Cincinnati Reds 6-0 on Sunday at Minute Maid Park.
After splitting a pair of extra-inning affairs with the Reds (27-43) on Friday and Saturday, the Astros (34-36) posted two two-run innings against Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan (3-5) to claim the series.
Valbuena and Gattis delivered successive run-scoring hits in the second inning, with Valbuena plating Gattis with a single to center field after Gattis' RBI double to right-center scored second baseman Danny Worth.
Valbuena and Gattis later added solo home runs, with Valbuena belting his eighth homer on the first pitch of the fifth inning and Gattis smacking his 11th on an 0-2 count against Reds right-hander JC Ramirez.
Valbuena and Gattis finished a combined 4-for-7 with four RBIs and three runs.
Fiers (5-3) faced two batters over the minimum through four innings, got some help from catcher Gattis when he erased Eugenio Suarez as he attempted to steal third base in the fifth, and retired consecutive batters in the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk to Reds shortstop Zack Cozart.
However, Fiers' start came to a premature end when Reds right fielder Jay Bruce lined a pitch off Fiers' leg with two outs in the sixth inning. Fiers recovered to make a late throw to first base and departed following a visit from manager A.J. Hinch and the medical personnel.
Right-hander Chris Devenski cleaned up the mess in the sixth, allowing Fiers to finish with the following line: 5 2/3 innings with four hits and one walk against five strikeouts over 90 pitches, including 53 strikes.
Devenski earned his first career save by working the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing one hit while recording three strikeouts.
Jose Altuve, serving as the designated hitter for the first time this season, finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez extended his hitting streak to five games with an RBI double in the eighth inning that scored Altuve.
Finnegan allowed four runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. He had allowed a total of four earned runs in three previous starts this month. Just 40 of his 77 pitches were strikes.
NOTES: With LHP Brandon Finnegan following LHPs John Lamb and Cody Reed in the series against the Astros, Cincinnati started three southpaws in succession for the first time since May 18-20, 2006 (David Williams, Brandon Claussen and Eric Milton). Lamb, Reed and Finnegan were all acquired from the Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade on July 26, 2015. ... Astros UTL Danny Worth made his first start at second base since May 26, 2014, when he played for the Tigers. Worth had started three games at third base since his selection to the major league roster last Tuesday. ... With RHPs Raisel Iglesias (right shoulder impingement) and Michael Lorenzen (sprained right elbow) progressing in their rehab assignments, Reds manager Bryan Price announced that an eight-man bullpen is a probability when Iglesias and Lorenzen return from the disabled list. Cincinnati entered Sunday second in the majors in bullpen innings (249) and an extra reliever could lessen the collective workload.