The nice round number of 100 seemed prevalent on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park. While the Astros were trying to avoid it for another day, Reds right fielder Jay Bruce powered right to it.
Part of a 10-0 Reds thumping of Houston, Bruce notched five RBIs, including four on a fourth-inning grand slam that gave him 30 home runs and, for the first time in his career, 100 RBIs.
“One hundred RBIs and 30 home runs all in one swoop,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It’s great for him to do it in front of his parents and all his homeboys. He’s from right down the road.”
Meanwhile, the youth-laden Astros reached 100 losses for their third-straight year and own a Major League-worst 51-100 record. This series has presented an opportune time on the Reds’ schedule to narrow the gap some more in the National League Central race. A Pirates loss put Cincinnati 1 1/2 games out of second place. The Cardinals won their game to keep first place to themselves and lead by 2 1/2 games over Cincinnati.
The magic number for the Reds to clinch the second NL Wild Card spot went to seven as the Nationals swept both games of a doubleheader.
“We’re ready to go. It’s just a matter of us playing sound baseball and playing the way that we’re capable of,” Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake said.
Leake pitched eight innings in the shutout and allowed five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Before Leake even took the mound, he was provided a 4-0 lead as eight men batted in the first inning against Jordan Lyles. With runners already on the corners and one out, Bruce blooped a ball near the left-field foul line that dropped between Marc Krauss and shortstop Jonathan Villar. It snapped a personal 0-for-8 mark lifetime vs. Lyles.
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