Houston Astros left fielder Zach Dezenzo (9) celebrates after launching a two-run homer in the second inning during the MLB interleague matchup against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Zach Cole delivered a three-run blast during a five-run ninth inning, powering the visiting Houston Astros to a 10-0 shutout of the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night and handing the Reds their eighth consecutive loss.
Zach Dezenzo, Yordan Alvarez, and Christian Vazquez also went deep for Houston, which opened the three-game series with its third shutout of the season. Mike Burrows (2-4) worked a career-high seven innings, allowing just three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. He retired the final 11 batters he faced.
Cincinnati managed only five hits while being blanked for the fourth time this season. The Reds have lost nine of their last 10 games, dropping into last place in the National League Central.
In the ninth, Vazquez followed Cole’s home run with a solo shot off Tony Santillan. The Astros kept the pressure on against position player Jose Trevino, who made his fourth pitching appearance of the season.
Houston struck first with a two-run second inning against Nick Lodolo (0-1), who was making his season debut after recovering from a blister on his left index finger. After Lodolo retired the first two batters, Brice Matthews tripled and scored when Dezenzo deposited a 1-2 sinker into the right-field seats.
Cincinnati’s best scoring threat came in the fourth when they loaded the bases with one out. Burrows escaped the jam by getting Spencer Steer to fly out and striking out Tyler Stephenson on three pitches.
The Astros extended their lead in the sixth. Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch with one out, and Alvarez followed with a two-run homer to right-center. The 407-foot blast was Alvarez’s team-leading 13th home run of the season.
Lodolo allowed four runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out two.
Houston added a run in the eighth against Tejay Antone. Altuve led off with a double, moved to third on Alvarez’s groundout, and scored on Isaac Pared
