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The Cincinnati Reds looked like the team from a week ago Friday night as they took care of the Houston Astros in short order, with small ball, 4-1 in Houston.
Taking the hill for the Cincinnati Reds was Mike Leake (2-5). Leake pitched a masterful game going 7 innings, allowing only 4 hits and 1 earned run. He improved his ERA to a season low 4.95.
It was during the second inning that Leake earned his keep for the Cincinnati Reds. He found himself up 2-0 but having loaded the bases with only one out. Leake was able to work out of that mess without allowing a run. During the 3 inning, the Reds came back and pushed across another run as Joey Votto (2-4) singled home Zack Cozart from second to make the score 3-1.
In all honesty, that was all that Leake needed for the night; however, Jay Bruce (2-4) homered in the top of the 9th to complete the scoring for the Cincinnati Reds, 4-1. It looked as though the Reds were going to get a rare win without the homerun until Bruce went yard late.
The real pleasure of the game was watching Aroldis Chapman pick up his 4th save of the season by striking out the side on only 13 pitches. He spent most of the time throwing in triple digits. I am going to come right out and say it, we are watching the greatest beginning of a season by any pitcher in the history of the game with Chapman this year. He still has not allowed a single earned run. He has struck out more than half of the batters he has faced and has struck out at least one batter in every inning pitched. Amazing!
The Cincinnati Reds and the Astros will go at it again on Saturday as the Reds will look to improve on their Central Division leading 29-22 record. A sweep in Houston will move them up the power rankings from their current 7th place.
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