Verlander's Rough Outing Leads to Astros Loss in Cincinnati

Verlander Gives Up Five Earned Runs

Justin Verlander's struggles continued on Saturday as he allowed five earned runs in the Astros' 5-3 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati.

Rough First Inning

Verlander got off to a rough start, allowing three runs in the first inning. Joey Votto doubled in two runs, and Kyle Farmer singled in another to give the Reds an early 3-0 lead.

More Trouble in the Fifth

Verlander settled down after the first inning, but he ran into trouble again in the fifth. He gave up a two-run homer to Tyler Naquin, increasing the Reds' lead to 5-0.

Astros Offense Unable to Keep Pace

The Astros' offense was unable to keep pace with the Reds. They scored three runs in the sixth inning on a Kyle Tucker two-run homer and a Jeremy Peña RBI single, but that was all they could muster.

Verlander's Struggles Continue

Verlander's outing was his shortest of the season. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and five walks. His ERA now stands at 5.33.

Looking Ahead

The Astros will look to bounce back on Sunday when they face the Reds in the series finale. Lance McCullers Jr. is scheduled to start for Houston.