Astros End Nine-Game Reds Skid with 3-0 Victory Amid Blanco's 11-Strikeout Start

The Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds have recently faced off in a series marked by strong pitching performances and offensive struggles. On Friday, Astros pitcher Hunter Brown struck out nine batters and limited the Reds to four hits in a 3-0 Astros win, ending Houston's long losing streak against Cincinnati. The Reds continued their offensive woes, scoring four runs or less in six straight games and failing with runners in scoring position. On Saturday, the Reds exploded early with a 10-run first inning, highlighted by Elly De La Cruz's three-run homer, leading to a 13-9 victory over Houston, despite Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. struggling with command. Houston rebounded on Sunday with Ronel Blanco's career-high 11 strikeouts over eight innings and a two-hitter combined with Shawn Dubin, securing a 6-0 win and the series. Key Astros players like Yainer Diaz and Christian Walker contributed offensively, while Cincinnati's rookie Chase Petty struggled in his second major league start. Meanwhile, Astros star Jose Altuve dealt with right hamstring tightness, impacting Houston's lineup during the series.