By John Fay - Cincinnati Enquirer Staff
HOUSTON - It looked like a lock. The Reds had a four-run lead. Bronson Arroyo was rolling, retiring 10 in a row. Chalk it up, right?
Not quite.
Arroyo went from dominant to hittable in an instant.
The Houston Astros put up six quick runs in the fifth inning, and the Reds were on their way to an 8-5 loss at Minute Maid Park Wednesday.
A critical error by shortstop Royce Clayton contributed to Arroyo's troubles in the fifth. But it was strange. Before and after the onslaught, Arroyo was very good.
"I felt good," Arroyo said. "It was one of those innings that can blow up on you."
He went 62/3 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) - both highs as a Red - on eight hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
Arroyo (9-7) has lost four straight decisions and failed to win his 10th game for the seventh straight start.
Arroyo allowed a home run to Craig Biggio in the first, but Rich Aurilia tied it in the second with his 13th homer.
The Reds scored three runs in the fourth, thanks largely to an Astro error, and added another in the fifth for a 5-1 lead.
It all unraveled in the fifth. Brad Ausmus led off with a double, and Arroyo hit Adam Everett with a pitch.
"Letting the bottom of the order get on hurt him," Reds manager Jerry Narron said.
Pinch hitter Willy Taveras hit a groundball to Clayton, whose flip to Brandon Phillips hit Phillips in the back.
"I should have caught that ball," Phillips said. "That inning was because of me."
All Astro hands were safe. Biggio followed with an RBI single, and Chris Burke singled in two more.
Lance Berkman followed with a long home run, and just like that it was 7-5 Houston.
