Sean Casey rounds the bases after his 10th inning, game-winning home run. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Every time a Cincinnati Reds teammate hits a game-ending homer, Sean Casey makes sure he joins the helmet-slapping celebration at home plate.

        The gregarious first baseman loves dramatic moments, but regretted that he'd never been in the middle of one. In 4½ major league seasons, Casey had hit 70 homers, none of them a game-winner.

        Once he stopped trying, he finally hit one.

        Casey's solo shot in the 10th inning gave the Reds a 2-1 victory Sunday over the Houston Astros and allowed Casey to finally find out what it's like to be in the eye of a home-plate huddle.

        “You talk about all of the memories you make in major league baseball and how you take them home and bottle them up,” Casey said. “This is one I'm definitely going to bottle up.”

        Rookie Ricky Stone won't forget it, either.

        Stone (3-3) grew up in nearby Hamilton, Ohio, and had 16 relatives and friends in the stands for one of his biggest moments. When he walked up the mound to warm up for the 10th inning, he set an Astros rookie record with his 62nd appearance.

        He struck out Austin Kearns to start the inning and keep with the game's theme — not much hitting. Kearns hit a solo homer in the second, shortly before a long rain delay, and Jeff Bagwell matched it with his 23rd homer in the seventh.

        Through nine innings, the teams had three hits apiece and not one rally between them. Gabe White (6-1) got Craig Biggio to fly out to the warning track during a perfect top of the 10th.

        With one out in the bottom of the inning, Casey dug in against Stone, thinking it would be a great spot for a homer.

        Stone threw a changeup. Casey squeezed and swung so hard and early that he hit a harmless foul.

        Strike one.

        Stone threw another changeup, and Casey took another mighty swing. It didn't even come close.

        Strike two.

        What should Stone throw now?

        “He looked pretty bad on the first couple of changeups,” Stone said.

        Might as well throw another, he thought.

Sean Casey pumps his fist in celebration to the fans. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        It came in around 80 mph and dropped, just like the first two. There was one difference this time: Casey had stopped trying to hit it into the seats.

        “On the first pitch that I pulled foul, I think I was trying to win the game,” Casey said. “The second pitch was a changeup, and I was trying to win it there, too. I said to myself, 'You can't think that way.' I calmed myself down.”

        He tried to keep himself calm after his drive landed in the second deck in right field. As he finally reached the plate, Casey was enveloped by giddy teammates.

        He finally knew how it felt.

        “It's an amazing game, baseball,” manager Bob Boone said.

        Stone also knew how it felt to set a record and lose a game close to home, all within the span of two batters. He was downcast afterward, second-guessing his choice for the final pitch.

        “All three were the same pitch,” Stone said. “The third one he got. I thought I threw a pretty good pitch; he went down and got it. If you throw one three times in a row, usually you'll get hurt.”

        The loss severely hurt the Astros, who trailed St. Louis by only one game in the NL Central as recently as Aug. 7. They've gone 4-5 since then, falling five games back — their biggest deficit since Aug. 4.

        Houston was only a half-game ahead of third-place Cincinnati as they got set to complete their four-game series Monday.

        Notes: Houston's Carlos Hernandez was activated and made his first start since July 1, when a sore shoulder sent him to the DL. The left-hander gave up one hit in two innings before the rain — Kearns' 10th homer. ... The Astros optioned reliever Jim Mann to Triple-A to open a spot for Hernandez. ... Stone surpassed Charley Kerfeld, who made 61 appearances as a rookie in 1986. ...The rain delay (2 hours, 56 minutes) lasted longer than the game (2 hours, 36 minutes). ... Reds C Jason LaRue had another passed ball, his 17th of the season — more than any other NL team. LaRue led the NL with 15 last season. The Reds have 23 in all, most in the majors.

Reds 2, Astros 1 Reds box, runs DAUGHERTY: Baseball knows fans will return At last, joy in Mudville Cards likely to get good view of Estes Louisville 8, Columbus 7 Clock ticks as negotiations resume A-Rod at top of his game while team is at bottom Cards' Rolen sits with sore shoulder Cardinals 5, Phillies 1 Cubs 3, Diamondbacks 2 Pirates 3, Brewers 2

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