Astros vs. Reds Game Highlights (9/2/24) | MLB Highlights

The Astros take off a three game set in the Queen City to wrap up a big 18 game stretch. The Astros 10 and seven so far in that stretch on short rest, it's julian A Jose Altuve leads things off for the Astros hitting 296 that seventh in the A L A back to the plate pitch and Altuve reaches for it, pops up the change up the second baseman Jonathan India for the first out on Alvarez left hand hitting and Alvarez skies this one shallow up the middle de La Cruz, the shortstop, he's going to be called up by India and India drops the ball. Jonathan India a step into the outfield grass simply drop the ball looked like there was some confusion at first as to whether De La Cruz or India would take it. So Alvarez reaches first on the ever Alvarez at first one out for Janer Diaz Astros catcher top to third Espinal on the back hand goes to second. That's all they'll get. They do cut down the lead man two down. That's Jeremy Pena's turn. Aguiar strikes him out upstairs heat Reds grab their bats. Now today they turn the ball over to the veteran Justin Verlander. The first ballot Hall of Famer makes a third start back from the il. Looking forward to this watch Justin do his thing. Get back in his groove, which he does and always pitches well in September, India coming off a strong day three for four with double and he just did miss off the outside corner with a fastball for ball four. India is aboard with a leadoff walk in the first de la Cruz away and it's back to back full count walks the Reds coaxing pitches and getting a couple of men on against Verlander. Verlander had not walked multiple batters in either start against Boston or Philly. And now in his third start off the walks, the first two hitters of the game, all four off the outside corner that is three straight walks to begin this game issued by Justin Verlander and now TJ Friedel comes to the plate, don't let him off the hook ripped into right field, falling quickly on in a hurry with the dive. Hayward makes the catch India tags at third. He will score and the on the board on the sac fly to right that sinking line drive from TJ Friedel Jason Heyward who is a plus plus defender out there. If he doesn't have to leave his feet, there's going to be a play at the plate. Now, spencer steer the batter leads the team and runs batted in and he pops it up right side of the infield. Altuve and Singleton are near each other. It's altuve who makes the catch. That's a big second out. Now, France Reds do have 11 of those points where you want to get greedy up the middle. That base hit he Rs around third and scores France right up the middle 2 to 0. Nice job by Ty France. Didn't try to get too big, didn't try to do too much. Takes the ball right back where it came from first pitch he saw in his first game back yesterday. Homer to right and that's lifted in the right over is Hayward to his right. He gets there makes the catch and the side is retired but the Reds get two RBIs by Friedel and France for his arms out of the way and he draws the leadoff walk here in the third inning. Chas mccormick recalled Jake my on paternity. How about Chaz one to left field that's back and off the wall and over the wall. Chaz with an automatic double as he hits one on the warning track and over the wall. Chaz's first at bat back for the minor leagues that he has himself his first double since June the 19th. Now, here's Jose Altuve roll to short de La Cruz. Cruz makes the play one down. It doesn't appear that the Reds are going to mess around with Alvarez. They will send him on down to first and that will put the onus on the catcher. This one over the, the right center field being way around. Chas mccormick. Here comes the throw from Fraley. Not in time. We're tied at 22 more. RBIs for Diaz 77 on the year RB I 76 and 77 on the season. But we've seen this before from Diaz a little inside out, swing on a pitch inside. So now Jeremy, you turn it loose. A little jam shot flair right field. Fraley's got it quick throw back to second. Not in time. Boy, they almost doubled up. Jordan Alvarez at second base. Aguiar is done. He's got a South ball ready. Aguiar with a heavy workload this inning left on left against John Singleton. It's Sam M big bend at the knees and he lifts this one high in the air. Deep center field going back is Friedel. He's got it right in front of the Reds. Take a deep breath, exhale. It's a 22 ball game that will be a base hit for Tyler Stevenson. It comes in leadoff fashion to begin the Reds third CJ. Friedel has a line drive sack fly and this is hit in the left center field should be playable. Mccormick races in Astros. Center fielder makes the catch Spencer steers saw one pitch first time in on him and he pops it up. That was a good pitch by Verlander as altuve circles underneath it and makes the catch for out number two. A man on for Tyran is an RB I single to right off the wall. Stevenson steaming for third stop sign from House good throw in from Hayward cut by Altuve France is standing double 2nd and 3rd. Jake Fraley worked a 3 to 0 count eventually fly to right his first time towards the middle. Jeremy is right there. JP makes the throw to first in time to get Fraley and Justin two runners in scoring position. Good play by Hayward to keep the run off the board. Espinal out to left field time up back in. There is the Reds starting third baseman swinging him is there's the first strikeout of the day for Justin Verlander picking up strikeout number 34 03 in his career two away from the top 10 all time. Ahmed Rosario standing in out to center field his first time up and he whistled out to one out single for Rosario back to the top of the order in Jonathan India. That ball hit well to right field but Hayward has it lined up and he puts it away. India retired for the second out the dangerous A De La Cruz, he's walked out to left field and he walks de la Cruz. Rosario races up to second the ball just now gathered by Diaz Smart awareness by Rosario. He saw Diaz wasn't going after that ball all that hard. Tyler Stevenson on twice. He has walked swing and a Miss, he gets Stevenson here. Second strikeout of the inning. He's now one behind matt Scherzer for the top 10 all time strikeouts in major league history, Justin Verlander in his fifth inning of work starts off facing TJ Fried who has lined into a sacrifice fly and flied out to center, but he picks up his third strikeout here and that ties him with Max Scherzer 10th all time on the major league baseball strikeout list. 3405 2 down. France stands in hitting almost 270 is a first pitch to right. His success against Verlander continues. He is three for three off him today and now it's jake Fraley who's zero for two with a fly out and a ground out. Fran goes. Fraley swings sharp ground ball past the diving Alba through second France on the race for third. Fraley connects men at the corners. This is the rookie manager and the veteran no chance future first ballot Hall of Famer. Having a little discussion here is still going to let him stay in. Yes, he is on a huge chance for the Reds tied at two. Santiago Espinal and joe Bata giving Verlander one more batter. Fraley goes again, that's away and Fraley steals an unoccupied 2nd 22 lifted to right falling fast tube can't get it. French scores. Fraley crosses Reds take a 4 to 2 left. Santiago Espinal delivers again. Verlander will walk off the mound after his highest pitch count of the season. A frustrating day that started with three walks and ends with a bloop. Kla. Ward takes over for the Astros. Espinal goes great jump pitch misses and a steal of second. It's a career high nine steals. Ahmed Rosario is singled. He's also flying to center up the middle base hit wave on for Espinal mccormack is fire to the plate. Espinal score standing. Rosario delivers another. It's five to Derek Johnson, the pitching coach out there having a word with Spiers as he has walked two here with two outs. And now Caratini who's been a great pinch hitter for the Astros will get a chance to pinch hit here. That ball hit hard to right field, it will be down for a hit. Singleton will be held up and the throw will be cut off. Caratini another pitch hit for the Astros. He's now hitting 500 as a pitch hitter and the Astros have loaded the bases with two out for Jason Heyward. Pay off pitch runners go to bouncing ball to Espinol way over in the hole on the left side. The third baseman has it the first in time to get Hayward side retired third walk by Spier in the last couple of innings. Here's Jordan Alvarez Jordan continued his on base streak. Now up to 26 games. Jordan hits one the other way slicing towards the corner that's going to be down for a hit and bounce into the stands for an automatic double Astros have put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Jordan doubles the other way. That is his 30th double of the season. So for Spier Reds call for Pagan Pagan will face Jr D as he sees righties have hit him. Well, this year, he has reverse splits skies one into center field that sends Fried all the way back. This will easily score. Altuve Jordan is also good going to advance 90 ft. It's a 5 to 3 game. Yer Diaz has driven in all three runs, 76 runs batted in on the year, Pena looking for his first hit. He's got a four game hitting streak going swing and a miss and he struck him out a high cutter and Pena was way out in front and missed it and Espinal just keeps right on rocking along. That's his second hit of the afternoon. It will put runners at 1st and 2nd base for Ahmed Rosario. The pitch that's going all the way to the backstop. Both runners will advance infield in the 12 and he got him strike three elevated the chatter a big second out of the inning and the infielders can go back down here's jonathan India and this time that is way outside for ball four. So Ellie de La Cruz will come to the plate with the bases, juice called third strike de la Cruz. Not happy. It's still a 5 to 3 game signal to walk here with one out who came on as a pitch runner and stayed in the game. Runners do go this time. The pitch is a strike to throw to third. Not in time. That will be a double steal, Friedel taking third and steer gets second. But that's out. Number two, Raley has a hit today and are unscored. He's one for four, got him. Whitley strikes out three in the inning and two more stranded by the red. They have left 14 runners on base today has thrown a scoreless inning and two thirds so far back out there and Hayward is zero for two with a walk and a run scored into center field. Friedel coming on following quickly. It's going to be down for a hit. Jason Heyward on base with a single to lead off the inning and the Astros will bring the tying run to the plate here in the ninth first pitch to Chas mccormick. He bunts it left side off the Mount. Pagan scrambles throws to first in time. Hayward goes to second and there is one away play made to get mccormick for the first out. And now Jose Altuve will bat strike three called. Got him looking fastball, maybe a little generous on the outside corner, but it is strike three called and that is a huge second out. Justin Wilson gets the call to go left on left. Alvarez hits 369 against left handed pitchers to center Friedel has it red and makes the catch wilson best Alvarez. The Reds take down the Astros Cincinnati has won back to back games for the first time in 2.5 weeks and the Reds have claimed seven straight against Houston.