Boxscore

Chris Dickerson went 3-4 on the day after being “protected” by his “manager.” (Corey Patterson continued to play and would have screwed the Reds over again with a base-running blunder, had it not been for Dickerson saving his pathetic butt.) Javier Valentí­n added a solo shot along with the 2 RBI from Dickerson, and that was enough.

Johnny Cueto finally got a win again, and the Reds bullpen didn’t suck, despite the appearance of Magic Man Gary Majewski.

Ian Snell pitched okay for the Pirates, allowing 2 runs in 6 innings, but his team was unable to score.

The win gave the Reds the victory in the 3-game series.

Boxscore

The Astros won their 8th straight game last night, completing a 4-game sweep of the Giants.

Lance Berkman provided the heroics, breaking a tie in the bottom of the 8th with a 2-run home run.

The streak has sent Houston’s record to 3 games over .500 for the first time since the beginning of June.

The team is having a hard time explaining their recent success, though.

“There’s a little magic in the clubhouse,” manager Cecil Cooper said.

Well, that’s one explanation. But how about instead of pixie dust, we look at the two teams the Astros have played in this 8-game run? Aha, it’s the Giants and the Reds. That explains everything.