Reds Beat Astros for Seventh Straight Victory

Matt McClain, Jonathon India, Will Benson, and Kevin Newman all drove in a pair of runs apiece as the Cincinnati Reds walloped the Astros 10-3 in Houston on June 17th. It was the seventh straight win for the Reds, and second over the defending World Series champion Astros. The Reds improved to 36-35 on the season, and were ½ game behind the 1st place Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.

Last season, the Reds were 62-100, tied for second worst record in the National League. Two and a half months into this season, the Reds are battling for first in the NL Central. They’re doing it with a predominantly young team. For example, outfielders Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild, T.J. Friedl, and T.J. Hopkins are all rookies. So are infielders Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, and Elly De La Cruz; Jonathon India was Rookie of the Year in 2021. McLain and De La Cruz started the season in the minors and were called up in May. De La Cruz is considered the Reds’ top prospect, and McLain is hitting .328 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 30 games. Steer, the regular 1st baseman, has nine homers and 37 RBIs.

One area the Reds will need to improve on is pitching. Here, too, Cincinnati has a young roster with a lot of rookies and second year players. The team ERA of 4.90 is the second worst in the National League, and that’s the type of thing that catches up to a young roster in a long season. If the Reds do have a late lead, they are in good hands with closer Alexis Diaz. In his second year in the majors, Diaz is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA and is 18 for 18 in save chances.