The Reds did against the Astros what we all expected them to do against the Cubs with their 14-3 victory yesterday.

Aaron Harang had all the support he would need before he even took the mound in the bottom of the first inning. He was all bad-ass for about three innings before it started to crumble a little. That's OK; the Reds have plenty of relievers who can defend an 11-run lead. Harang allowed two runs (earned) on five hits and two walks through six innings for the win.

Chris Hammond took over for the seventh and allowed zero runs on two hits. David Weathers pitched the eighth and allowed one run (earned) on a solo shot. The newest Red (I think, he's getting hard to keep track) Esteban Yan pitched the ninth and allowed zero runs on zero hits and a walk.

I don't really want to recap 14 runs, so let's summarize in bullet formation:

• Brandon Phillips offered spark in the first inning when he got one of his two hits (he was 2-for-6 with one RBI) and stole second after Wandy Rodriguez threw over about a hundred times trying to pick him off.
• Felipe Lopez went 1-for-4 with two walks and got himself caught stealing in the second inning. What happened to our base-stealing phenom?
• Ken Griffey, Jr. went 2-for-5 with an RBI and came out of the game in the seventh inning. I wonder why they left him in that long.
• Rich Aurilia went 2-for-5 with a walk and scored three runs. Very nice.
• Adam Dunn went a big fat 0-fer. 0-for-1, that is, with three walks. He came out of the game in the eighth inning and was replaced by Quinton McCracken. That's just funny.
• Austin Kearns and Edwin Encarnación were hella-hot, each going 3-for-4 and four RBI apiece. That means that each of them scored as many runners as all of the Astros combined.
• Jason LaRue is hella-cold, going 0-for-5. He left six on base and is hitting a great big .173. For a fun little comparison, Harang is hitting .214. McCracken is hitting .179.
• Ryan Freel, who took over center field for Griffey, went 1-for-2. I had been asleep for a while by then. It's been a tough week.

The win brings the Reds' record to 30-24 and their winning streak to 2. It pushes the Astros under .500 and ensures that they won't be taking over second place in the division this series.

The Reds continue the series tonight at 7:05 p.m. when Bronson Arroyo takes on Andy Pettitte.