Aroldis Chapman will not be participating in this thread. Reds lose, 4-3.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Paul Janish.  The hometown boy had two doubles and also reached on a walk.  Reds shortstops were saving all of their offensive proficiency for the stretch run after the All-Star Break.  It was a canny strategy, but the rest of the team failed to step up and keep the Reds in contention until that point.  Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto (2-4 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI), and Bronson Arroyo (seven innings of shutout ball, and gave up three in the second inning due to some spotty defense).

Key Plays

• After sacrifice bunt attempts in their first two innings at the plate, Bronson Arroyo and the Reds faced the Astros in the second.  Arroyo walked Carlos Lee, and J.D. Martinez hit a single.  Lee rather optimistically tried for third and was easily thrown out by Drew Stubbs.  A good thing, because Clint Barmes singled, and then Jimmy Paredes hit a triple.  Martinez and Barmes scored, and then Barmes scored when Humberto Quintero doubled.  Astros lead, 3-0.
• The Reds immediately tried to come back, with Drew Stubbs singling off of Bud Norris and stealing second base.  One out later, Joey Votto hit a double to bring him in.  Brandon Phillips then singled, and Votto scored.  Dusty called for a hit and run with Jay Bruce at the plate, but instead that resulted in an inning-ending strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out.  Astros lead, 3-2.
• In the fifth inning, Miguel Cairo, Joey Votto, and Brandon Phillips all singled to load the bases with no outs.  Time to really take 'em to the woodshed!  Instead, Jay Bruce grounded into a double play.  It did allow Cairo to score, but Norris walked Yonder Alonso and got Ryan Hanigan to pop out, ending the threat.  Game tied, 3-3.
• The game remained scoreless after that point.  There was the occasional threat, a runner getting into scoring position only to be inevitably stranded.  Finally, the tenth inning rolled around and Logan Ondrusek entered the game.  Since he has decided to be the worst pitcher on the face of the planet the last week or so, he pitched terribly.  Humberto Quintero and pinch hitter Angel Sanchez started off the inning with singles, and Ondrusek walked Brian Bogusevic to load the bases with no outs.  A miracle was needed.  Either a timely double play, or some big strikeouts.  Aroldis Chapman sat glued to the bullpen bench, not even warming up.  Jose Altuve grounded a ball towards second.  Brandon Phillips made a nice play on the ball and whipped towards home.  It hit Ryan Hanigan in the mitt... and he dropped it.  Quintero scored.  Game over on a walk off fielder's choice.  Astros win, 4-3.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• The first runs Arroyo gave up came when he surrendered a triple to Jimmy Paredes, who was having his first major league at-bat.  No other Astro has tripled in his first at-bat.
• In a weird statistic that is probably true, Joey Votto has an extra base hit in 11 straight games at Minute Maid Park.  That ties Jeff Bagwell's record for the longest streak of its kind by any player in any opposing park.  Bagwell had his slugging success at Candlestick Park.
• Arroyo did not allow a home run for the first time since June 13.
• The Astros only have a .330 winning percentage, but they have a .400 winning percentage against the Reds this year.