Oswalt: It's not 1986 anymore
(c) Associated Press
|
Maybe it was the anxiety of living with the constant trade rumors or the thought of tying an important franchise record or the lingering effects of a sore ankle but Roy Oswalt's audition for scouts interested in a deadline trade deal for the Houston ace did not go well Saturday night.
Oswalt gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings as Johnny Cueto stymied the Astros in a 7-0 whitewash of the Astros by Cincinnati. Joey Votto and Ramon Hernandez homered early in the game off Oswalt then the Reds pounced for three more tallies while the weak-hitting Houston lineup looked impotent by comparison. Chris Johnson had half of the Astros' four hits on the evening as Cueto looked to be in complete control for eight innings.
Sorry, scouts, but Cueto is under club control for near the league minimum in Cincy so there will be no trading for the Reds phenom. After Chris Heisey blasted a solo shot off Chris Sampson in the ninth, Jordan Smith tossed a hitless inning to complete the shutout.
Houston tries to avoid the sweep on Sunday afternoon. Wandy Rodriguez (7-11) duels with rookie Mike Leake (7-1) in a 1:05 Central contest. Oswalt will have one last chance to pitch before the trade deadline, likely Friday night against Milwaukee, but the chance is much greater now that Joe Niekro will remain the winningest Astro pitcher for many years to come.
|