Adam Dunn hit his 12th homer. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        HOUSTON — The Houston Astros put on a clinic of clutch baseball Wednesday night.

        The Reds had to feel pretty good about themselves after Adam Dunn's home run in the fifth tied the game. The runs were the first allowed by 20-year-old Houston rookie left-hander Carlos Hernandez after 17 scoreless. After he walked Ken Griffey Jr., Hernandez was gone.

        But the Astros simply put together back-to-back two-out, two-run rallies and they were on their way to a 6-2 victory over the Reds at Enron Field.

        With the second-place Chicago Cubs' 5-1 victory over Florida already posted on the scoreboard in left field, that's clutch baseball.

        “They're looking good,” Reds pitcher Jose Rijo said. “They're playing together. They're doing the things they have to on the field and in the clubhouse. There's guys in the clubhouse an hour after the game.

        “That's what happens when you win: You have fun.”

        The Astros are winning. Wednesday's victory was their 10th in 12 games and their 15th in 20 games. It kept their National League Central lead at four games.

Sean Casey was out at home on a disputed call. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        The Reds, who had won five of seven coming into the series, lost their second in a row.

        But it was a good chance for the young Reds to get a look at a good club up close. And they were impressed.

        “They're not in first place for nothing,” Dunn said. “They've got great pitching. Their lineup is one of the best in baseball.”

        The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the second on Moises Alou's 24th home run, a no-doubter off the facade above the left-field bleachers. It was was the 27th homer Reds starter Elmer Dessens (9-11) has allowed this year.

        Hernandez did not allow a hit until Sean Casey's one-out double in the third. An out later, Ruben Rivera walked. Juan Castro singled up the middle.

        The Reds gambled and lost on the play. Second baseman Craig Biggio fielded the ball well behind second — but Casey just kept running. Had Biggio thrown to first to try to get Castro, Casey would have scored. But Biggio realized he had no play at first and threw home.

        The play was close. Casey appeared to have avoided catcher Tony Eusebio's tag, but it also looked like Casey's foot never touched the plate. Home-plate umpire Mike Winters ruled Casey out.

        That brought third base coach Ron Oester charging in to argue. Whatever he said got him ejected in about three seconds.

        The call stood, and Hernandez's stretch of scoreless innings went to 17.

        “He's got great stuff,” Dunn said. “He's pretty legit.”

        The Astros added a small-ball run in the fourth. Jeff Bagwell led off with a single and went to third on a nice hit-and-run. He scored on Alou's sacrifice fly to center.

        Dunn tied it with his 12th home run of the year. That made it eight straight series in which Dunn has homered. If you did that for a full season, you'd finish with at least 52 home runs.

        Hernandez lasted only one more batter, but the Astros bullpen threw 4 1/3 innings of two-hit ball. And the Astros didn't leave it tied for long.

        Biggio worked a two-out walk in the fifth. Julio Lugo followed with a single to right. Bagwell got them both home with a double to center. The Griffey-to-Reese-to-Young relay nailed him at third, but the runs made it 4-2.

        Houston added two more in the sixth with another two-out rally, off Scott Sullivan.

        “They play the game the way it's supposed to be played,” Rijo said.

Astros 6, Reds 2 Dunn loses eligibility for Rookie of Year Pokey fills in at 2B Boone's return delayed Astros' hitters coming around Reds box, runs

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