Reds 5, Astros 4

The Reds won it walk-off style at Ed Smith. Alvin Colina's three-run double in the ninth was the game-winner. The Reds scored all five of their runs in the ninth.

"That's a beautiful thing," Dusty Baker said. "It took us a little while to get going. It's first day game after a night game. It was sweet."

But it's just spring training, right?

"If you win it matters," Baker said. "If you lose, it's just spring training."

Jose Castro, the 21-year-old shortstop the Reds got in the Jeff Conine trade with the Mets, started the rally with a triple. Amando Rios and Paul Janish walked. Drew Anderson walked to force in a run. Kevin Baker singled to make it 4-2. The Colina sent one to the wall in the right-center.

The game started with 18 up, 18 down by Aaron Harang and Brandon Backe

Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence homered off Harang in the fourth. He gave an unearned run in the fifth.

Harang's line: 5 IP, 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts.

David Weathers, Kent Mercker and Francisco Cordero each pitched a scoreless inning. Mike Lincoln gave a run in the ninth.


It was 4-1 after the seventh in Lakeland vs. the Tigers in other half of the split squad. Matt Maloney gave up a 2-run home to Carlos Guillen and a solo shot to Scott Sizemore in the second. Maloney's line: 2 IP, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts. Tom Shearn gave up a homer to Pudge Rodriguez.