Joey Votto blasts 3 run homer as Latos pitches 7 in, 1 run

n1

Off day today

Astros take the fifth as Lyles' start says it all
Jordan Lyles' solid effort, capped by a nine-pitch seventh, helped halt the Astros' eight-game skid. Houston grabbed the lead in the fifth to erase Zack Cozart's blast -- Lyles' lone hiccup -- and Justin Maxwell's pinch-hit homer was insurance.

Bucs' offense leaves Cincinnati Red
The Pittsburgh Pirates' offense put on a show Tuesday night with big showings from Clint Barmes, Casey McGehee and Neil Walker. Homer Bailey lasted just four innings while giving up six runs to the Bucs. The Pirates continue to inch closer to the top of the NL Central.
Pirates 8, Reds 4
W:Burnett (5-2)L:Bailey (4-4)SV:Hanrahan (15)

Reds to Bucs: Your streak stops here
Cincinnati ended Pittsburgh's win streak at two games and increased their lead in the NL Central on the strength of Johnny Cueto's solid start, key hits by Brandon Phillips and Ryan Ludwick, and a great catch by Chris Heisey.
W:Cueto (6-3)L:Lincoln (3-1)SV:Chapman (6)

Bucs prove Aroldis is still a Chap-man
After 29 scoreless innings to start the season, the Pirates became the first team to solve Aroldis Chapman, as Michael McKenry's RBI double in the 10th inning gave Pittsburgh a huge series victory despite Ryan Ludwick's two-homer effort.
W:Hanrahan (3-0)L:Chapman (4-1)SV:Resop (1)

incoming 4 game losing streak!

The legend of Billy Hamilton grows. The Reds' minor leaguer -- a second-round pick in 2009 -- has 70 stolen bases in 84 attempts for Single-A Bakersfield, and he's increased his on-base percentage this year from .340 to .401. Walt Jocketty, the Reds' general manager, has asked his player development folks about the nature of Hamilton's stolen bases, and he has been assured that this is not a case of a baserunner piling up numbers without discretion in empty moments. "He's running in the right situations," Jocketty said.

Chris Buckley, the Reds' amateur scouting director, wrote in an email that Cincinnati "first started scouting him in 11th grade. Our scouts raved about his speed and athleticism. He reminded me of a guy I grew up admiring and played with as a young guy -- Willie Wilson." Hamilton was a four-sport athlete, and the more he plays, Buckley wrote, the better he's gotten.

Hamilton is a shortstop, but the Reds have the smooth-fielding Zack Cozart in the big leagues and Didi Gregorius in Double-A, and at some point in the upcoming offseason, Cincinnati may decide to shift Hamilton to another position.

Center fielder of the future.