Reds take advantage of an Astros miscue to end losing streak
The Cincinnati Reds were due for a fortuitous break to fall in their favor, and probably overdue given the nature of the eight-game losing streak they were on. For the first time in more than a week, they got that break and defeated the Houston Astros 3-1 Saturday, May 9 to snap the streak. Pierce Johnson filled in for closer Emilio Pagan and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his first save as a Red.
When the break finally arrived there was no mistaking that the moment in question could mean something significant to the struggling, suddenly-last-place Reds. Trailing the Astros 1-0 in the fifth inning and facing the real possibility of a ninth straight loss, Astros right fielder Cam Smith simply dropped a fly ball off catcher Jose Trevino's bat. With only long shadows from the stadium's light towers and the west grandstand possibly adding to the degree of difficulty, there was nothing exceptional about what was required of Smith: The ball was about 85 mph off Trevino's bat and traveled 293 feet.
It was a lazy fly ball, and a no-doubt second out of the inning. Until it wasn't, and the doorway to Cincinnati's first win since April 30 cracked open even as Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti had dominated up to that point. Matt McLain kicked the door down, punishing the Astros for their error.
He punched two-run single into left field to put the Reds up, 2-1. Later in the inning and with the bases loaded again, Elly De La Cruz singled home another run for a 3-1 advantage. McLain attempted to score from second base on the De La Cruz hit and was tagged out at home, but Cincinnati had inflicted enough damage offensively on a day when the pitching staff delivered on all fronts.
On the mound, Chase Burns was in the midst of another strong outing. He spent 87 pitches over six innings, allowing four hits and a lone run. The only blight on Burns' outing was a solo homer in the top of the fifth inning by Braden Shewmake.