Brandon Backe hurled six shutout innings in only his third start as a starting pitcher and JK pummeled to yaks as the red hot Stros blasted the Reds in Cincy at the Great American Ballpark, 8-0.
The win was the Stros’ fifth straight and 13th in their last 17 games. Incredibly, the win brought the Stros within three games of the Cubs, who are currently in the lead for the National League Wild Card playoff spot. What a run!
Backe gave up only three hits in his six frames as he continues his unlikely journey from backend reliever to a potential fourth or fifth starter. Stros relievers Chad Qualls, Mike Gallo and Dan Wheeler allowed a combined three hits over the final three innings to secure the Stros’ 11th shutout of the season.
In addition to JK’s two crank jobs, Beltran, Bags and Berkman had some fun in the fifth when they hammered back-to-back-to-back taters. The Reds pitching is so bad that even that uprising did not prompt the removal of starter Aaron Harang.
The Stros have a good chance of keeping it going in tomorrow’s Businessman’s Special as Roy O goes for his 16th win against Paul Wilson (9-4), who is the Reds’ best starter. After a well-deserved off day on Thursday, the Stros and the Rocket start a weekender with the Pirates at the Juice Box on Friday night.