Reds Defeat Astros 13-9 Amid Altuve Injury, Series Tied 1-1

The Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds have been engaged in a closely contested series, with the Astros winning their first game against the Reds since 2016, thanks to Hunter Brown's strong pitching performance. However, the Reds dominated the subsequent game, scoring 13 runs against the Astros, who struggled particularly with pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., who was pulled early after allowing 10 runs in the first inning. Astros star Jose Altuve left the game due to right hamstring tightness, raising concerns about his availability for upcoming games. Despite the rough loss, the Astros showed some offensive energy, narrowing a large deficit briefly, but ultimately fell short. The series finale will feature Ronel Blanco pitching for Houston against Chase Petty for Cincinnati, with both teams currently at or near .500. The Astros' ability to bounce back and maintain competitiveness in the AL West remains a key question as injuries and pitching struggles impact their season.