Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Laynce Nix.  Nix was the only Red with multiple hits in this game, going 2-4 with a home run.  However, it was a real team effort tonight in a hard-fought win over the Astros and evil witch doctor Roy Oswalt.  Wanna know how it happened?

Key Plays

• After each team had opportunities with runners on and two outs, the Reds broke through in the third inning.  Owings and Dickerson singled to lead off the inning, and Hairston bunted them over.  Votto struck out, but cleanup hitter Ramon Hernandez came through with a single to center field to give the Reds a 2-0 lead.
• Owings pitched well, but the wheels started to come off the second time through the order.  In the fourth inning, Miguel Tejada doubled and Lance Berkman walked.  Carlos Lee got his second infield hit of the series and Pudge Rodriguez double to score Tejada and Berkman, tying the game.  Jeff Keppinger was intentionally walked to reload the bases, but that backfired when Edwin Maysonet got his first hit of the season to drive in Lee.  Fortunately the inning came to a merciful end when Roy Oswalt hit into a double play.
• Laynce Nix immediately homered to tie the game again.  "Who are ya?  Who are ya?"
• In the sixth inning, Mike Lincoln came on in relief and immediately surrendered a home run to Keppinger and a single to Maysonet.  Meanwhile, Drew Sutton struggled to tell whether he had mono or was just really bored.  Danny Ray Herrera relieved Lincoln, and ended the inning on a botched baserunning effort by Tejada, who singled and headed to second assuming Maysonet had gone to the plate (he hadn't).
• The Astros would rue their missed opportunity to add to their lead, but something like Keppinger's dinger would have been enough to sink the Reds in an Oswalt game.  Not tonight!  In the bottom of the sixth, Jay Bruce singled and Alex Gonzalez drew a two out walk.  Oswalt then hit Adam Rosales with a pitch, and pinch hitter Jonny Gomes drew a bases loaded walk for the second game in a row.  Tie game!
• Content with his no decision, Oswalt left the game.  His replacement, Tim Byrdak, walked Hairston and then surrendered a home run to Vottokin Skywalker in our Frisch's Big Boy Big Play of the Game.
• On a night where we were conquering our demons, Coco Cordero got Reds-killer Lance Berkman to ground into a game ending double play when he represented the tying run.

via FanGraphs

Other Notes

• Coco Cordero remains tied for the Major League lead with 13 saves.
• Laynce Nix is now 5-9 with two home runs against Roy Oswalt.
• Coming in to today, Mike Lincoln's ERA+ was 50.  It's lower than that now.
• The Reds no longer have a losing record at home (12-12).
• Milwaukee lost, so the Reds are 1.5 games out of first place in the Central.
• Roy Oswalt does not have a win against the Reds this year in three games started.
• Jay Bruce's single broke an 0-15 skid.