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Sunday, Sep. 24 1:15pm ET
Stynes homer lifts Reds | |||||
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GAME LOG
CINCINNATI (AP) -- After the way his first three at-bats went, Chris Stynes wasn't feeling very confident at the plate in the ninth inning. Stynes hit a two-run homer as the Cincinnati Reds scored three runs in the ninth to beat the Houston Astros 4-3 on Sunday. "I was on deck hoping that Alex (Ochoa) would get a home run," said Stynes, who was hitless in his first three at-bats. "I didn't want another AB. The first three didn't go all that well." Saturday's game was delayed nearly two hours in the eighth inning. A light rain fell most of Sunday afternoon during the Reds' home finale. "One way or the other, everybody was ready to go home," Stynes said. "It was an ugly day -- yesterday was an ugly day. But I guess it was a good day for the fans." After Wade Miller held Cincinnati to one run through eight innings, Chris Sexton led off the ninth with a single off Wayne Franklin. Dmitri Young followed with a double and the Reds drew to 3-2 on Sean Casey's sacrifice fly. Octavio Dotel (3-6) came on and got Ochoa on a flyout, before Stynes followed with a shot to left field for his 11th home run. It was Dotel's sixth blown save in 21 chances. "I've seen this stuff all year," Houston manager Larry Dierker said. Dierker, whose team has set an NL record with 242 home runs, lost Friday when Cincinnati outhomered the Astros 6-3, and Saturday when Stynes homered during the Reds' three-run eighth. Stynes, who had not had a good day at the plate, was hoping that Ochoa would end the game. Scott Sullivan (3-6) pitched a perfect ninth for the win. Miller gave up one hit until Brady Clark's pinch-hit single with two outs in the sixth. Sexton doubled to deep center field to drive in Clark and preserve the Reds' string of 157 straight games with at least a run, the third longest streak to start a season in the major leagues. The 1979 Brewers went 160 games and the 1993 Phillies went 158 games. The only team to complete a season without a shutout was the 1932 Yankees in a 156-game season. Lance Berkman led off the second for Houston with a double, and Alou followed with an RBI bloop single to short right field. Richard Hidalgo beat out an infield hit, and one out later Tim Bogar walked to load the bases. But Miller grounded into a double play to end the threat. Julio Lugo walked to lead off the sixth, stole second and two outs later scored on Berkman's double to right. Alou followed with his second RBI single. Miller gave up six hits, no walks and struck out six in eight innings. Game notesThe Astros are off Monday before starting their final three-game road series in Pittsburgh. ... With Sunday's season finale in Cinergy Field, demolition of left and center field stands was set to begin Monday so construction can start on a ballfield scheduled to be ready for the 2003 season. The Reds will play two more years in Cinergy Field, which will have about 42,500 seats after 14,000 are removed. ... Four statues of Crosley Field-era players will be placed at the entrance to the new ballpark. Based on fan voting, the four players chosen are catcher Ernie Lombardi, outfielder Frank Robinson, first baseman Ted Kluszewski and pitcher Joe Nuxhall. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Houston Clubhouse Cincinnati Clubhouse RECAPS Baltimore 1 Boston 0
Cincinnati 4
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