Dateline: Cincinnati
Nick Lodolo could not rescue the Reds and their losing streak reached eight games as the Houston Astros bested ravaged them in a 10-0 decision.
Mike Burrows the Astros starter pitched a career-high seven innings and kept the Reds at bay, allowing just three hits and a walk. He struck out six.
"He came into the game throwing about 60 percent off speed. His off speed was good," Terry Francona said. "Then he started to get the fastball by a lot of our barrels. Then his change up got better as the game went on."
Lodolo made his first start of the season after recovering from a blister on his left index finger.
Lodolo allowed a single to Yordan Alvarez in the first inning with no score. He retired the first two batters of the second inning but gave up a triple to Brice Matthews and the first home run of the season to Zach Dezenzo. Dezenzo played at Ohio State University and missed the start of the season with an elbow strain. He was recalled on Tuesday from Triple A Sugar Land.
"The first home run, wasn't a bad pitch," Lodolo said. "The pitch to Alvarez came back over the plate. Overall, I threw the ball better than I think I did. Those two pitches standout but I feel good."
The Reds loaded the bases in the fourth against Astros' starter Mike Burrows but Spencer Steer popped out to shallow right and Tyler Stephenson struck out to end the threat.
Lodolo hit Jose Altuve with a pitch one out into the sixth inning but Alvarez lined his 13th home run of the season on the first pitch of his at bat. Isaac Pareded, the next batter, doubled into the left field corner. Reds' manager Terry Francona, brought Pierce Johnson in from the bullpen.
Lodolo pitched 5 1/3 innings in his first start, allowing four runs on five hit, two of them home runs, one walk and he hit a batter. He had just one strikeout.
The Astros stretched their lead in the eighth inning against Tejay Antone. Altuve doubled on an 0-2 pitch, advanced to second on a ground out to first by Alvarez and scored on a ground ball up the middle. It was fielded by Matt McLain but he didn't have a play at the plate and had to throw to first.
The Astros pounded Tony Santillan in the ninth. Cam Smith and Brice Mathews singled and Zach Cole hit his second home run of the season. Christian Vazquez lofted his third home run and ended Santillan's appearance.
"It was a game, I really didn't want to pitch him," Francona said. "He pitches on adrenaline a lot. We always go back and look to see why. I think it is different things."
Backup catcher Jose Trevino came in for the fourth time this season. His knuckleball was hit for three singles before he got Paredes to fly out and Walker to ground into a 5-3 double play.
The Reds hold on to a record above .500 at 20-19. The losing streak of eight games is the longest since, April 30 through May 8, 2024 exactly two years ago. The Reds try to prevent a nine game losing streak like the one they suffered from April 26 through May 5, 2022 almost exactly four years ago in the 100 loss season.
"I don't ever think our guys don't compete," Francona said. "It's not going the way we want it to, right now. It hasn't been a fun week for anyone. This is when me and the coaches have to be there for them. We are going to go through this with them. It is always going to be us. It is not going to be us when we win and they when we don't win."
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