To compound the odds against the Reds, Houston had not lost a series since they lost three out of four to Minnesota on April 29 through May 2. They were 11-0-2 in their last 13 series coming in.
Jesse Winker and Cincinnati starter Anthony DeSclafani weren't intimidated. The Reds hit three home runs off Verlander and the pitching made them stand up for a 4-3 win to take the series with the finale on Wednesday afternoon.
For the second straight day Michael Lorenzen was brought in to close out the game. He picked up his fourth save with a perfect ninth.
DeSclafani battled through a rocky fitst inning. Michael Brantley singled with one out and advanced to third on a double by Yuli Gurriel. DeSclafani struck out Robinson Chirinos on a 3-2 pitch to end the threat.
"It helps to get runs in the first inning any time but it is especially important against a Justin Verlander," said DeSclafani who won his second straight decision to go to improve his record to 4-3. "The margin of error is smaller with him pitching against you. You saw how he shut us down after the first until Farmer hit his home run."
"What you are seeing is DeSclafani getting better," Bell said.
Winker hit a loud foul that cleared the fence by plenty but hooked at the last minute. No matter Winker reached the left field seats with his 12th home run two pitches later. It was the fourth time a Reds' batter has led off a game with a home run. Winker did it last year on September 13 against Jack Flaherty at St. Louis. Nick Senzel has done it twice. Joey Votto hit the other leadoff home run.
Votto dumped a fly ball right on the left field line that Yordan Alvarez couldn't run down. It bounced into the stands for a double. One out later Derek Dietrich launched his 18th home run of the season into the Reds' bullpen in right field.
"It is good to get a lead against any one," Dietrich said. "We have been pitching so well and playing good defense that getting ahead in any game is a good thing. Against Verlander it is even better."
Verlander and DeSclafani settled in.
DeSclafani retired eight straight before Gurriel singled in the fourth. Chirinos hit into a double play.
Verlander allowed a double in the third by Votto and double by Tucker Barnhart in the fourth but allowed no runs.
The Astros mounted a threat again in the fifth. Tyler White hit a leadoff double and Tony Kemp followed with a walk. Jake Marisnick struck out and Verlander hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
The Astros got one run back in the sixth inning with one out, Brantley doubled. Alvarez doubled over Votto's head. David Hernandez took the ball in relief of DeSclafani. Gurriel hit a fly to center. Alvarez took off for third and beat Senzel's throw. He got the safe call although it appeared he over slid the base. The Reds appealed and one, ending the inning.
Amir Garrett took over for Hernandez on a double switch. after White hit his second double of the game. Garrett retired pinch hitter Josh Reddick on a ground out to Votto.
Kyle Farmer, who replaced Dietrich at second base in the double switch hit his sixth home into the upper deck in left off Verlander. It was the second straight game in which Verlander gave up three home runs and the third time this season.
Garrett's control got him in trouble in the eighth. He walked pinch hitter Myles Straw, then fell behind Bregman 3-1. Bregman hit his 20th home run to cut the Reds' lead to 4-3. Brantley followed with a bloop single to center. Alvarez flied out to Yasiel Puig in right field. David Bell went to Raisel Iglesias to pitch to Gurriel. Gurriel struck out. A wild pitch put Brantley into scoring position with the tying run. Iglesias fanned Chirinos to preserve the lead.
"We knew if Gurriel got up in that inning, it was the key to the game. We went with our best," Said Bell who before the season vowed to use Iglesias in the key point in the game and not necessarily the last inning. "It helps that Michael Lorenzen is throwing the ball real well. We felt that if we got through the eighth inning, we had confidence that we could close it out."
The Pittsburgh Pirates lost to Detroit and the Miami Marlins shut out the St. Louis Cardinals. That puts the Reds in fourth place a game and a half in front of Pittsburgh and within 3-1/2 games of the third place Cardinals.
"What I'm seeing is a new expectations and determination," Bell said. "We're coming together as a team."
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