Wild pitch brings in winning run for Reds

Votto scampers home in the seventh as Cincinnati sweeps series.

Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto (19) is congratulated by teammate Wladimir Balentien (28) after scoring on a passed ball in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, in Cincinnati. Bench coach Chris Speier , left, looks on. Cincinnati won the game 6-5.

Associated Press photo by Al Behrman Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto (19) is congratulated by teammate Wladimir Balentien (28) after scoring on a passed ball in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, in Cincinnati. Bench coach Chris Speier , left, looks on. Cincinnati won the game 6-5.

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Associated Press 11:40 PM Wednesday, September 16, 2009

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the seventh inning and the Cincinnati Reds overcame Jeff Keppinger’s first career multihomer game in a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night, Sept. 16.

In a game that featured seven solo homers in the first five innings, Votto led off the seventh against Wesley Wright (3-3) with an infield single and went to third on a single by Brandon Phillips. Jeff Fulchino relieved Wright with Chris Coste going in at catcher in a double switch. Fulchino bounced a pitch that Coste couldn’t handle, allowing Votto to break a 5-5 tie.

Jared Burton (1-0) retired all five batters he faced for the win. Nick Masset pitched the eighth and Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 37th save and third in three games.

Keppinger, a former Red, had two of Houston’s five solo shots — all off Reds starter Justin Lehr — but that wasn’t enough to keep the Astros from their fourth consecutive loss. Houston was swept in a three-game series in Cincinnati for the second time this season.

Jonny Gomes, mired in a 3-for-24 slump going into the game, led off the second with his 20th homer to give Cincinnati a 1-0 lead. Houston responded in the third with homers by Kaz Matsui, Carlos Lee and Keppinger, all of which were followed by an out.

Matsui’s was his second homer in two nights and seventh of the season, matching the career high he set with the New York Mets in 2004. Lee’s was his 26th, and Keppinger’s was his sixth and first in 32 at-bats since Aug. 28.

Drew Stubbs led off the Reds’ third with his seventh homer of the season and second in two nights, and Scott Rolen added a tying sacrifice fly.

The Reds took their second lead when Wladimir Balentien scored on Lehr’s suicide-squeeze bunt in the fourth, but Geoff Blum and Keppinger came up with consecutive homers in the fifth. Blum’s was his 10th of the season and first in 60 at-bats since Aug. 16.

The Reds tied the score in the sixth on Balentien’s leadoff single, Craig Tatum’s sacrifice and Stubbs’ single.

The Astros also hit five on April 8 against the Cubs.

Lehr tied a club record by allowing the five home runs. He gave up 11 hits and five runs with one walk and six strikeouts.

The last Reds pitcher to allow five homers in a game was Brandon Claussen against the Cubs on July 18, 2005.

Houston right-hander Yorman Bazardo, in his third start of the season and first since Aug. 28, allowed six hits and four runs.

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