Astros Lose Game Four and Series to Cinci, Waste Good Start By Hampton

Reds 4, Astros 3

Mike Hampton pitched six plus innings, giving up three earned.

Geoff Geary came in for Mike Hampton, with a runner on second in the top of the seventh, and proceeded to give up a single and a walk to load the bases for Joey Votto.

Tim Byrdak was brought in to face Votto and gave up a two-run double. Bourn, Blum, and Rodriguez teamed up to gun down Hairston at the plate, preventing him from scoring on the double as well.

Houston had a great opportunity to tie the ball game in the bottom of the eighth, with Berkman at the plate and runners at first and third, following a lead-off double by Jason Michaels and a walk by Miguel Tejada.

Berkman couldn't come through and eventually Hunter Pence was struck out on a called third strike to end the inning with the bases loaded. Pence is 0-4 this year with the bases loaded.

• Matsui 1-3, K, sac bunt.
• Tejada 0-3, BB, GIDP
• Berkman 1-4, HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Lee 1-3, HR, BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Pence 2-4, K, R, 4 LOB
• Blum 3-4
• Rodriguez 1-4, RBI, GIDP
• Bourn 1-4, K
• Hampton 0-2
• Michaels 1-1, 2B

Pitching line:

• Hampton 6.1 IP, 8 H, BB, 5K, 3 ER
• Geary 0.0 + IP, 1 H, BB, 1 ER
• Byrdak .2 IP, 1 H, 1K
• LaHawk 1 IP, BB, HBP, K
• Valverde 1 IP, K

Good news

Berkman and Lee each hit homers, Berkmans first from the left side. Mike Hampton pitched six strong innings.

Bad news

Houston has managed to blow three-out-of-four great starts from their starting pitching. The club continues to struggle with RISP. Hunter Pence left four on tonight and Berkman failed to bring home a gimme RBI. Geary is not pitching well right now either, earning his second loss tonight.

Geary (0-2)
Arroyo (3-0)

Houston (4-9)