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The 2012 season is mercifully coming to an end for the Houston Astros, as they have just 25 more games before the offseason will begin for the already-eliminated team. Before that happens, though, they'll play three more games against the division-leading Cincinnati Reds beginning Friday night.
With an 8.5-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Reds are coming closer to clinching a ticket to October baseball, although a different storyline will have everyone's eyes on Friday. Reds right-fielder Jay Bruce has hit home runs in four consecutive games and can tie a team record by making it a fifth game in a row on Saturday night.
To tie the mark shared by Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Johnny Bench and Ted Kluszewski, Bruce will likely have to find success against Lucas Harrell. While Harrell has allowed just one home run in his last eight starts for the Astros, he has faced Bruce seven times, allowing four hits and an April 28 home run.
The first pitch at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati will be thrown by Harrell at 7:10 p.m. ET/6:10 p.m. CT. The game is scheduled to be televised on Fox Sports Houston and Fox Sports Cincinnati.
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