JoeMcClenahan
04-16-2002, 11:43 PM
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Lance Berkman figures the way he hits Cincinnati Reds pitching is just one of the quirky things about baseball.
Berkman became the first major leaguer this season to homer three times in a game, driving in five runs as the Houston Astros hit five home runs in beating the Reds 8-3 on Tuesday night.
"Sometimes a guy just owns you and can't get a hit off him to save your life," Berkman said.
Berkman owned the Reds on Tuesday, as he has most of his career.
"Tonight was a good night," Berkman said. "But the season's built around singles and base hits. You can't always hit the ball out of the ballpark."
It was the second three-homer game for Berkman, but his first in the majors. He said he had three in a Triple-A game with New Orleans in 2000.
The first two Tuesday night were off Reds starter Jose Acevedo, and they cost Acevedo (2-1) his job. Acevedo was optioned to Triple-A Louisville after the game.
"He left some pitches up and out over the plate," Berkman said. "They were probably mistakes."
Indeed.
"I didn't have my stuff. I wasn't throwing well," Acevedo said. "I've never had a night like this."
But he wasn't surprised by the demotion.
"They told me to keep the ball down. It was my mistake," Acevedo said. "I'll just have to go back down there, get the job done, work to keep the ball down and, hopefully, get back up there soon."
Richard Hidalgo followed Berkman's three-run homer in the first with a solo shot to the same spot over the left-field wall.
Jeff Bagwell's two-run homer in the second inning, his first of the season, made it 6-0, and Berkman followed with his sixth homer, clearing the 40-foot "batter's eye" in center.
He also had a solo homer in the fifth off Jose Rijo, breaking a 24-inning scoreless streak by the Reds' bullpen.
Houston's first four homers were off Acevedo, who lasted just 1 2-3 innings, the shortest start of his career. He allowed seven runs on six hits.
Berkman's homer over the black wall in straightaway center was only the second to clear the wall in the two years it has been in place. The first was hit by St. Louis' Albert Pujols last season.
"Typically, the ball tends to carry pretty well here," Berkman said. "I felt like I hit all three pretty solid, and they went to the right spot."
Berkman has thrived on Reds pitching, hitting .416 (37-of-89) in his career with eight home runs and 29 RBI.
But Jim Brower got Berkman to ground out in the seventh, and Luis Pineda struck him out in the ninth. Berkman said a fourth homer was in the back of his mind, but he wasn't going for it.
"I was really just trying to get a base hit," Berkman said. "You hit three home runs, you don't expect to hit a fourth one."
Dave Mlicki (1-2) allowed four hits in 7 2-3 innings, the longest outing by an Astros starter this year, including a fifth-inning solo home run by Ruben Mateo. Mlicki walked one and struck out six.
Todd Walker hit a two-run double off Ricky Stone in the ninth to bring the Reds within 8-3.
Game notes
The first-inning homers by Berkman and Hidalgo were the first consecutive homers by the Astros this season. Bagwell and Berkman duplicated that feat one inning later. ... The Astros extended their club record to 114 consecutive games without being shut out. ... Reds CF Ken Griffey Jr. took batting practice for the first time since partially tearing a patellar tendon in his right knee on April 7. He is not expected to need surgery, but will be out 3-to-6 weeks. ... Cincinnati 1B Sean Casey was not in uniform, and has not played since being hit in the head with a pitch Saturday in Philadelphia. ... Reds bench coach Ray Knight will miss the Houston series. He is in New Mexico for the funeral of the father of his wife, golfer Nancy Lopez.
Berkman became the first major leaguer this season to homer three times in a game, driving in five runs as the Houston Astros hit five home runs in beating the Reds 8-3 on Tuesday night.
"Sometimes a guy just owns you and can't get a hit off him to save your life," Berkman said.
Berkman owned the Reds on Tuesday, as he has most of his career.
"Tonight was a good night," Berkman said. "But the season's built around singles and base hits. You can't always hit the ball out of the ballpark."
It was the second three-homer game for Berkman, but his first in the majors. He said he had three in a Triple-A game with New Orleans in 2000.
The first two Tuesday night were off Reds starter Jose Acevedo, and they cost Acevedo (2-1) his job. Acevedo was optioned to Triple-A Louisville after the game.
"He left some pitches up and out over the plate," Berkman said. "They were probably mistakes."
Indeed.
"I didn't have my stuff. I wasn't throwing well," Acevedo said. "I've never had a night like this."
But he wasn't surprised by the demotion.
"They told me to keep the ball down. It was my mistake," Acevedo said. "I'll just have to go back down there, get the job done, work to keep the ball down and, hopefully, get back up there soon."
Richard Hidalgo followed Berkman's three-run homer in the first with a solo shot to the same spot over the left-field wall.
Jeff Bagwell's two-run homer in the second inning, his first of the season, made it 6-0, and Berkman followed with his sixth homer, clearing the 40-foot "batter's eye" in center.
He also had a solo homer in the fifth off Jose Rijo, breaking a 24-inning scoreless streak by the Reds' bullpen.
Houston's first four homers were off Acevedo, who lasted just 1 2-3 innings, the shortest start of his career. He allowed seven runs on six hits.
Berkman's homer over the black wall in straightaway center was only the second to clear the wall in the two years it has been in place. The first was hit by St. Louis' Albert Pujols last season.
"Typically, the ball tends to carry pretty well here," Berkman said. "I felt like I hit all three pretty solid, and they went to the right spot."
Berkman has thrived on Reds pitching, hitting .416 (37-of-89) in his career with eight home runs and 29 RBI.
But Jim Brower got Berkman to ground out in the seventh, and Luis Pineda struck him out in the ninth. Berkman said a fourth homer was in the back of his mind, but he wasn't going for it.
"I was really just trying to get a base hit," Berkman said. "You hit three home runs, you don't expect to hit a fourth one."
Dave Mlicki (1-2) allowed four hits in 7 2-3 innings, the longest outing by an Astros starter this year, including a fifth-inning solo home run by Ruben Mateo. Mlicki walked one and struck out six.
Todd Walker hit a two-run double off Ricky Stone in the ninth to bring the Reds within 8-3.
Game notes
The first-inning homers by Berkman and Hidalgo were the first consecutive homers by the Astros this season. Bagwell and Berkman duplicated that feat one inning later. ... The Astros extended their club record to 114 consecutive games without being shut out. ... Reds CF Ken Griffey Jr. took batting practice for the first time since partially tearing a patellar tendon in his right knee on April 7. He is not expected to need surgery, but will be out 3-to-6 weeks. ... Cincinnati 1B Sean Casey was not in uniform, and has not played since being hit in the head with a pitch Saturday in Philadelphia. ... Reds bench coach Ray Knight will miss the Houston series. He is in New Mexico for the funeral of the father of his wife, golfer Nancy Lopez.