Reds 2, Astros 1

Just when you thought the Reds could go a month without winning two in a row, they pull out a nice win of over the Astros -- the team that has beaten them silly this year.

This was one that could have easily gotten away. Scott Hatteberg messed up a hit-and-run in the eighth, leading to Norris Hopper getting throw out at second. But before the Reds could absorb the feeling of deflation, Hatteberg hit a home run.

"I pride myself in being able to do that," he said. "The pitch was so bad I couldn't make my body swing. I screwed up. I'm glad I was able to make up for it."

The ninth was an adventure on to itself. David Weathers got Mike Lamb to hit a groundball. Brandon Phillips booted it. Morgan Ensberg sacrificed Lamb over. But Weathers walked Mark Loretta and Lance Berkman. That brought up Carlos Lee, the league leader in RBI. He hit a grounder to shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Gonzalez fell down as he fielded it, but he was able to crawl to second and throw Lee out. If Lee's just reasonably slow instead of really slow, it's a tie game. But for one night, the baseball gods were on the Reds side. Astros fans really thought so on the out call at home on Adam Everett as he tried to go for an inside-the-park home run.

Nonetheless, the Reds have won two in a row for the first time this month.

"Huge, huge," Matt Belisle said. "We can feed on the energy and momentum."

Belisle went 7 2/3 innings and gave up the one run on four hits. He struck out a career-high eight and walked none.

The Reds have Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo going the next two nights.