Final: Reds 2, Astros 1
Posted by JohnFay at 4/17/2009 8:11 PM EDT on Cincinnati.com

Ramon Hernandez's first home run as a Red was a big one. He followed Edwin Encarnacion's one-out walk in the eighth with an opposite field shot to right.

Nick Masset got the win. Coco Cordero got the save.

Hernanez's homer kept Roy Oswalt from going to 24-1 against the Reds.

Johnny Cueto's line was an odd one: 4 2/3 innings, one run, two hits, six walks, three strikeouts. He threw 88 pitches, 46 strikes.

Big chance for the Reds in the second. Jay Bruce singled. Encarnacion doubled. Hernandez walked to load the bases. But Alex Gonzalez struck out, and Cueto did too.

Miguel Tejada broke Cueto's no-hitter with infield single. Gonzalez made a great stop on the play but couldn't get anything on the throw.

Oswalt was at 83 pitches after four innings. Reds had eight base-runners through four -- nothing to show for it.

Cueto's end came quickly. He was 70 pitches with two outs in the fifth when he walked Oswalt. He then walked Michael Bourn on four pitches. Tejada grounded one through the left side to load the bases. Cueto then walked Lance Berkman for the third, forcing in a run. Dusty Baker immediately came and got Cueto. Mike Lincoln got Carlos Lee to end the inning.

Oswalt's line: 6 IP, 5 hits, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts.

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I went to bed an inning earlier;getting old dontcha know.

I am really pumped about the Red's chances this year. The pitching seems relatively solid!

Agreed, and they've come out of the gate at a decent pace instead of going straight in to the tank. Hopefully Bruce gets it going and we are in it in September. It has been awhile.