Results tagged ‘ Reds ’
Mills getting long in tooth among NL Central managers
Brad Mills and Terry Francona, former college roommates who worked together for years with the Phillies and the Red Sox, could soon be battling each other 18 times a season in the National League Central.
News reports say Francona is set to interview for the Cardinals’ vacant managerial position after he was let go by the Red Sox earlier this year. This comes after Ryne Sandberg was given permission to interview in St. Louis.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have fired Mike Quade and are going to interview Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin, who interviewed in Houston before Mills go the job two years ago.
Believe it or not, Mills is now the second-longest current tenured manager in the NL Central behind Dusty Baker. Here’s a breakdown of the managerial status of the teams in the Central:
St. Louis Cardinals — Vacant following the retirement of Tony La Russa.
Chicago Cubs — Vacant following the dismissal of Mike Quade.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Clint Hurdle just completed his first season in Pittsburgh.
Milwaukee Brewers — Ron Roenicke led the Brewers to the division title in his first season in 2011.
Houston Astros — Brad Mills has completed two seasons on the job.
Cincinnati Reds — Dusty Baker took over following the 2007 season and replaced Pete Mackanin, who was hired on an interim basis.
Astros’ lineup Wednesday vs. Reds
The Astros play their final road game of the season at 11:35 a.m. CT today against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Here is the lineup:
CF Jordan Schafer
RF J.B. Shuck
LF J.D. Martinez
1B Carlos Lee
2B Matt Downs
3B Chris Johnson
SS Clint Barmes
C J.R. Towles
LHP Wandy Rodriguez
Astros’ lineup for Tuesday vs. Reds
Here are Tuesday’s Astros-Reds lineups:
ASTROS
CF Jordan Schafer
SS Angel Sanchez
LF J.D. Martinez
1B Carlos Lee
RF Brian Bogusevic
3B Jimmy Paredes
2B Jose Altuve
C Humberto Quintero
RHP Bud Norris
REDS
2B Brandon Phillips
LF Dave Sappelt
1B Joey Votto
RF Jay Bruce
3B Juan Francisco
CF Drew Stubbs
C Devin Mesoraco
SS Paul Janish
RHP Homer Bailey
Reds have had their way with Astros
The Astros, weather permitting, will open their final road series of the season tonight against the Reds in Cincinnati. Unlike last year when the Astros watched the Reds clinch the division on a walk-off home run, Cincinnati doesn’t have much to play for. They were eliminated recently and were just swept in three games by the Brewers.
But the Reds have had their way with the Astros, going 15-4 in their last 19 games against Houston. In that span, the Astros have averaged 3.2 runs per game, compared to 6.1 for the Reds. What’s more, Astros pitchers have a 5.73 ERA in those 19 games, compared to 3.09 for the Reds. The Reds have outhomered the Astros 25-12 and have made two errors in that span, compared to 13 for the Astros.
Here are some other notes:
– The Astros and their opponents have averaged 6.7 runs per game since Sept. 1, the lowest in the Majors.
– The Reds have the third-worst run differential since Sept. 1 at minus-18.
– Astros rookies have 211 hits since the All-Star break, which is the third-most in the Majors in that span, trailing Kansas City (218) and Seattle (212).
– Astros outfielder Jason Bourgeois hit .157 in August and is hitting .367 in September, a .210 difference that’s the second-highest in the Majors. The Angels’ Erick Aybar hit .190 in August and is hitting .434 in September.
– In his first 22 starts, J.A. Happ was 4-14 with a 6.26 ERA, a .290 opponents’ batting average and a 1.66 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched). In his last four starts, he’s 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA, a .186 opponents’ batting average and a 1.21 WHIP.
Here is the Astros lineup against LHP Dontrelle Willis:
CF Jason Bourgeois
2B Jose Altuve
LF J.D. Martinez
1B Carlos Lee
RF Matt Downs
3B Jimmy Paredes
SS Clint Barmes
C Humberto Quintero
LHP J.A. Happ
Preview of Wednesday’s Astros-Reds game
The Astros will try to avoid getting swept when they face the Reds at 1:05 p.m. today at Minute Maid Park. The Astros send left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (2-3, 4.00 ERA) to the mound to face right-hander Edinson Volquez (3-1, 5.63 ERA).
Rodriguez is searching for his first home win of the season (0-1, 2.70 ERA) after beating the Pirates on the road last week. He’s 7-7 with a 4.07 ERA in 20 career starts against the Reds, including 1-1 with a 4.84 last year.
Volquez’s five career wins and 43 strikeouts are his most against any team, and his 1.37 ERA at Minute Maid Park is his best at any ballpark in which he’s made more htan on estart. He’s 5-0 with a 2.09 ERA ERA in his career against the Astros.
Here are the lineups:
ASTROS
CF Michael Bourn
C J.R. Towles
RF Hunter Pence
1B Brett Wallace
3B Chris Johnson
2B Matt Downs
LF Brian Bogusevic
SS Clint Barmes
LHP Wandy Rodriguez
REDS
CF Drew Stubbs
SS Edgar Renteria
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
LF Jonny Gomes
C Ramon Hernandez
RF Jay Bruce
3B Paul Janish
RHP Edinson Volquez
Tuesday’s Astros-Reds lineups
Here are the lineups for Tuesday’s game between Astros and Reds:
ASTROS
CF Michael Bourn
SS Angel Sanchez
RF Hunter Pence
LF Carlos Lee
1B Brett Wallace
2B Bill Hall
3B Chris Johnson
C Humberto Quintero
RHP Brett Myers
REDS
CF Drew Stubbs
SS Edgar Renteria
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
RF Jay Bruce
LF Jonny Gomes
3B Miguel Cairo
C Ryan Hanigan
RHP Homer Bailey
Astros-Reds postgame notes
Astros right fielder Hunter Pence put it best when he described Monday’s 6-1 loss to the Reds as “blah.” The most interesting thing to happen at Minute Maid Park came after the game when the team designated pitcher Nelson Figueroa for assignment and recalled left-hander Sergio Escalona from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Here are some postgame notes from Monday:
- RF Hunter Pence extended his hitting streak to a season-long 13 games by hitting a triple in the first inning and a homer in the eighth. He’s hitting .352 (19-for-54) during the streak with two homers and 11 RBIs, and the streak ties for the third-longest of his career. The triple was the 19th of Pence’s career at Minute Maid Park, which ranks second in ballpark history behind Lance Berkman’s 20 triples.
- CF Michael Bourn had two hits of two different left-handed pitchers Monday. He entered the game hitting .156 (5-for-32) against left-handers.
- SS Clint Barmes has hit safely in six of his last seven games, batting .269 (7-for-26) in that span.
- Astros pinch-hitters went 2-for-3 on Monday. In their past 17 plate appearances, Astros pinch-hitters are 6-for-14 (.429) with three walks.
Astros-Reds preview for Thursday
Astros reliever Brandon Lyon, who blew his fourth save in eight tries Wednesday, was scheduled to fly back to Houston on Thursday to be examined by team medical director Dr. David Lintner.
Lyon came on in the ninth inning Wednesday and the Astros leading 2-0 and allowed all five base runners to reach, with Jay Bruce doubling down the right-field line to score Joey Votto with the winning run. Lyon didn’t speak to reporters after the game, but the team announced early Thursday he was going to Houston.
MLB.com will keep you informed with latest Lyon updates.
Here are the lineups for Thursday’s series finale:
ASTROS
CF Michael Bourn
LF Jason Bourgeois
RF Hunter Pence
1B Brett Wallace
3B Chris Johnson
2B Bill Hall
SS Clint Barmes
C Humberto Quintero
RHP Brett Myers
REDS
CF Chris Heisey
SS Edgar Renteria
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
RF Jay Bruce
LF Jonny Gomes
C Ryan Hanigan
3B Paul Janish
RHP Homer Bailey
Astros-Reds postponed on Monday
Monday’s game between the Astros and Reds at Great American Ball Park was postponed because of a large rain storm that was due to move through the area. The game will be made up at 11:35 a.m. CT Thursday, which was originally an off day for both clubs.
The Astros will keep their pitching rotation in line, with left-hander J.A. Happ starting Tuesday’s 6:10 p.m. CT game, rookie Aneury Rodriguez making his first Major League start in Wednesday’s 11:35 a.m. game and Brett Myers working in the series finale Thursday.
The Reds will push back right-hander Mike Leake (3-0, 4.40 ERA) to start Tuesday against Happ, but will shuffle the remainder of their rotation. Left-hander Travis Wood (1-3, 6.82 ERA) will start Wednesday against Rodriguez
Astros face Reds, try for third win a row
The Astros will try to do something tonight they haven’t all season: win three games in a row. That’s if the weather holds up.
Left-hander J.A. Happ (1-4, 6.35 ERA) will start tonight for the Astros against Reds pitcher Mike Leake (3-0, 4.40 ERA).
Carlos Lee, who spent last night in Houston hospital after colliding with teammate Angel Sanchez on Sunday, is out of the lineup, as expected. And Brett Wallace is in the clean-up spot.
Here are the lineups:
ASTROS
CF Michael Bourn
LF Jason Bourgeois
RF Hunter Pence
1B Brett Wallace
3B Chris Johnson
2B Bill Hall
SS Clint Barmes
C Humberto Quintero
LHP J.A. Happ
REDS
CF Drew Stubbs
SS Edgar Renteria
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
LF Jonny Gomes
RF Chris Heisey
C Ramon Hernandez
3B Paul Janish
RHP Mike Leake
Brian McTaggart
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