Friday, April 23, 1999
SCOUTING REPORT
Astros (8-6) at Reds (5-9)
• Where: Cinergy Field.
• When: 7:05 p.m. today, 1:15 p.m. Saturday and 1:15 p.m. Sunday.
• Radio: WLW-AM (700).
• TV: Fox Sports Ohio, today and Sunday.
At the plate
To say Jeff Bagwell is playing up to expectations is an understatement. The first baseman is hitting .396 with four homers and 12 RBI, after a three-homer barrage at Chicago on Wednesday. Bagwell now has 225 career homers, eclipsing Jimmy Wynn (223) for the franchise's all-time lead.
Second baseman Craig Biggio, the perennial All-Star, is off to a relatively slow start (.259). He still leads the team with 10 runs. Outfielder Carl Everett has helped compensate by hitting safely in all but one of Houston's games. The switch-hitter is batting .400 with five stolen bases, both team highs.
The Reds will try not to awaken a sleeping giant in third baseman Ken Caminiti, who's batting only .200. Caminiti returned to Houston after four seasons with San Diego, which included his 1996 Most Valuable Player campaign.
On the mound
• Today: Jason Bere (1-0, 7.71) vs. Sean Bergman (0-1, 2.77).
• Saturday: Steve Avery (1-1, 2.49) vs. Mike Hampton (1-1, 5.09).
• Sunday: Pete Harnisch (1-2, 2.53) vs. Jose Lima (2-1, 3.79).
Assuming Bergman pitches tonight — he was scheduled to start Thursday's game in Chicago which was rained out — the Reds will be facing a nemesis from last season. Bergman was 2-0 in three starts against Cincinnati, posting a 3.22 ERA.
Left-hander Billy Wagner, one of the league's top relievers, has four saves in five appearances while not allowing a run. He has struck out eight batters while walking just one in five innings.
Outlook
The Astros throttled the Reds last year, winning the season series 8-3. Cincinnati won three of the first four meetings before Houston captured the final seven.
Reds Stories
METS 4, REDS 1
Oester goes face-to-face with umpire
All that's left for Schott is an apology Paul Daugherty
Cameron impressing Reds with fielding
Notebook: Crucial series? Not yet
Astros-Reds Scouting Report
Box, runs