Houston Astros vs Cincinnati Reds mlb live streaming online freedocast baseball video feed highquality radio commentary espn 360 gamecast TBS may 4, 2011. Game Review: With their cleanup hitter sidelined, the Houston Astros moved Brett Wallace up in the lineup the last time they took the field.
The surging 24-year-old first baseman didn't disappoint.
Houston (12-17) took two straight from Milwaukee over the weekend while allowing a total of one run but used an offensive outburst to win 10-4 in Tuesday night's series opener.
Wallace, who had hit fifth for most of the season, was moved up as Carlos Lee was held out due to a rib injury. The young slugger went 2 for 5 with a home run as Houston recorded its highest run total on the road. Lee's status for this game is unknown.
Wallace is batting .523 in his last 12 games, and his .383 average ranks among the top five in the majors.
12:35 PM ET, May 4, 2011
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Pitching Matchup
Houston v Cincinnati
Aneury Rodriguez
0-0, 6.75 ERA
Last appearance:
4/28 vs STL
1.0 IP, 1 ER
Dec = ND
Travis Wood
1-3, 6.82 ERA
Last appearance:
4/29 vs FLA
3.1 IP, 7 ER
Dec = Loss
Injury Report
Houston
* Jason Michaels LF - May 4: 15-Day DL
* Carlos Lee LF - May 4: Day-To-Day
* Wilton Lopez RP - May 1: 15-Day DL
* Brett Wallace 1B - Apr 30: Day-To-Day
Cincinnati
* Johnny Cueto SP - May 3: 15-Day DL
* Juan Francisco 3B - May 3: 15-Day DL
* Homer Bailey SP - May 2: 15-Day DL
* Miguel Cairo 3B - May 1: Day-To-Day
* Scott Rolen 3B - May 1: 15-Day DL
"I think the biggest thing is you have to get a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it and put it in play and try to drive guys in when you have the opportunity," Wallace told the Astros' official website.
"For me, it's the same thing. Whether I'm hitting fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh, it doesn't matter. I just I have to go up there with a game plan and stick to it and help the team win."
Michael Bourn, who went 1 for 5 Tuesday, is batting .444 over a seven-game hitting streak against the Reds. Jason Bourgeois collected three hits to increase his average to .588 in his last five games.
"You have two guys that could easily be .300 hitters that when they get on base is potentially a triple every time," said Hunter Pence, enjoying a seven-game hitting streak of his own. "It really is a dangerous weapon having that 1-2, and something I don't (think) any other (team) can come close to."
Houston's starters have recorded a 1.64 ERA during the three-game run. Rookie Aneury Rodriguez (0-0, 6.75) is scheduled to take the mound Wednesday for his first major league start.
Rodriguez, who started 131 games in Tampa Bay's minor league system from 2005-10, will take Nelson Figueroa's spot in the rotation.
"I'm excited because I was a starter for five years and I like it better because I have more time for preparation," said the 23-year-old right hander, who is expected to throw around 80 pitches.
Rodriguez will look to add to Cincinnati's recent woes at home. The Reds (14-15) are below .500 for the first time since May 7 of last season thanks largely to a 3-9 stretch at Great American Ball Park.
"Where I come from, it's OK to get down as long as you don't stay down," manager Dusty Baker said. "That's the secret. Everybody gets down. The key is not staying down."
If his recent efforts are any indication, Travis Wood (1-3, 6.82) doesn't seem likely to stop the Reds' struggles.
Wood allowed a season-worst seven runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of a 7-6 loss to Florida on Friday, dropping him to 0-3 with an 8.39 ERA in five starts since winning his season debut.
The left-hander, who has lost his two most recent home outings while recording a 17.55 ERA, is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against Houston.
The surging 24-year-old first baseman didn't disappoint.
AstrosWallace looks to continue his hot hitting as the visiting Astros try for a season-best fourth consecutive victory Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds.
(12-17, 5-8 away)
Reds
(14-15, 8-9 home)
Houston (12-17) took two straight from Milwaukee over the weekend while allowing a total of one run but used an offensive outburst to win 10-4 in Tuesday night's series opener.
Wallace, who had hit fifth for most of the season, was moved up as Carlos Lee was held out due to a rib injury. The young slugger went 2 for 5 with a home run as Houston recorded its highest run total on the road. Lee's status for this game is unknown.
Wallace is batting .523 in his last 12 games, and his .383 average ranks among the top five in the majors.
12:35 PM ET, May 4, 2011
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Pitching Matchup
Houston v Cincinnati
Aneury Rodriguez
0-0, 6.75 ERA
Last appearance:
4/28 vs STL
1.0 IP, 1 ER
Dec = ND
Travis Wood
1-3, 6.82 ERA
Last appearance:
4/29 vs FLA
3.1 IP, 7 ER
Dec = Loss
Injury Report
Houston
* Jason Michaels LF - May 4: 15-Day DL
* Carlos Lee LF - May 4: Day-To-Day
* Wilton Lopez RP - May 1: 15-Day DL
* Brett Wallace 1B - Apr 30: Day-To-Day
Cincinnati
* Johnny Cueto SP - May 3: 15-Day DL
* Juan Francisco 3B - May 3: 15-Day DL
* Homer Bailey SP - May 2: 15-Day DL
* Miguel Cairo 3B - May 1: Day-To-Day
* Scott Rolen 3B - May 1: 15-Day DL
"I think the biggest thing is you have to get a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it and put it in play and try to drive guys in when you have the opportunity," Wallace told the Astros' official website.
"For me, it's the same thing. Whether I'm hitting fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh, it doesn't matter. I just I have to go up there with a game plan and stick to it and help the team win."
Michael Bourn, who went 1 for 5 Tuesday, is batting .444 over a seven-game hitting streak against the Reds. Jason Bourgeois collected three hits to increase his average to .588 in his last five games.
"You have two guys that could easily be .300 hitters that when they get on base is potentially a triple every time," said Hunter Pence, enjoying a seven-game hitting streak of his own. "It really is a dangerous weapon having that 1-2, and something I don't (think) any other (team) can come close to."
Houston's starters have recorded a 1.64 ERA during the three-game run. Rookie Aneury Rodriguez (0-0, 6.75) is scheduled to take the mound Wednesday for his first major league start.
Rodriguez, who started 131 games in Tampa Bay's minor league system from 2005-10, will take Nelson Figueroa's spot in the rotation.
"I'm excited because I was a starter for five years and I like it better because I have more time for preparation," said the 23-year-old right hander, who is expected to throw around 80 pitches.
Rodriguez will look to add to Cincinnati's recent woes at home. The Reds (14-15) are below .500 for the first time since May 7 of last season thanks largely to a 3-9 stretch at Great American Ball Park.
"Where I come from, it's OK to get down as long as you don't stay down," manager Dusty Baker said. "That's the secret. Everybody gets down. The key is not staying down."
If his recent efforts are any indication, Travis Wood (1-3, 6.82) doesn't seem likely to stop the Reds' struggles.
Wood allowed a season-worst seven runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of a 7-6 loss to Florida on Friday, dropping him to 0-3 with an 8.39 ERA in five starts since winning his season debut.
The left-hander, who has lost his two most recent home outings while recording a 17.55 ERA, is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against Houston.