HOUSTON, TX – May 10, 2025 – The Cincinnati Reds unleashed an offensive barrage in the very first inning, scoring 10 runs and ultimately holding on for a wild 13-9 victory over the Houston Astros last night at Daikin Park. Despite a valiant comeback effort from the Astros, Cincinnati’s unprecedented opening frame proved to be the difference.
Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. (0-1), making just his second start back from a long-term injury, had a nightmare outing, allowing seven runs on three hits and three walks in just 0.1 innings of work before being pulled. Reliever Logan VanWey also struggled, giving up five runs. For the Reds, starter Brady Singer allowed seven runs in 2.1 innings, but Graham Ashcraft (3-3) earned the win in relief.
The Reds wasted no time in the top of the first inning. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch, Elly De La Cruz blasted a three-run home run to left field, immediately putting the Reds up 3-0. The hits kept coming, interspersed with walks, leading to Tyler Stephenson and Will Benson adding RBI singles and doubles, respectively. TJ Friedl and Matt McLain also drove in runs, and Gavin Lux capped the scoring with a two-run single, leaving the Astros in a stunning 10-0 deficit before they even came to bat.
The Astros did respond with a run in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single by Yainer Díaz, making it 10-1.
The Reds added two more runs in the third inning, including a two-run homer from Matt McLain, extending their lead to 12-1. However, the Astros refused to quit, mounting a massive six-run rally in the bottom of the third. Isaac Paredes hit an RBI double, Christian Walker followed with a two-run triple, Yainer Díaz added an RBI groundout, and Victor Caratini smashed a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to 12-7.
Houston continued to chip away, with Jeremy Peña hitting an RBI single in the fifth to make it 12-8. The Reds added one more run in the sixth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Peña added an RBI double, bringing the final score to 13-9.
Despite outhitting the Reds 14-12, the Astros were simply unable to overcome the massive hole they dug themselves in the first inning. The game also saw Astros second baseman Jose Altuve leave in the third inning due to right hamstring tightness, adding to the team’s growing list of injuries.
The loss brought the Astros’ record to 19-19, and the series is now tied at 1-1 with the rubber match set for tomorrow.