Reds score 10 runs in first inning of 13-9 win over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a three-run homer in Cincinnati’s 10-run first inning as the Reds pounced on Lance McCullers early and held on for a 13-9 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

McCullers (0-1), who was making just his second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, struggled with command. He walked leadoff hitter TJ Friedl before plunking Matt McLain on the backside.

Cruz then smacked an opposite field homer to left field to make it 3-0.

McCullers walked two more batters with one out before Tyler Stephenson hit an RBI single. Will Benson followed with an RBI double to make it 5-0 and chase McCullers.

He was replaced by Logan VanWey but the Reds kept piling on, sending 15 batters to the plate before Santiago Espinal finally struck out to end the inning.

McLain hit a two-run homer in the third inning to make it 12-1.

Victor Caratini hit a two-run homer in the third as part of six Astros runs that cut the lead to five. An RBI single by Jeremy Peña got Houston within 12-8 in the fifth. But Cincinnati’s big first inning was too much for Houston to overcome as it lost for the fourth time in six games.

Cincinnati starter Brady Singer allowed nine hits and seven runs in 2 1/3 innings and Graham Ashcraft (3-3) yielded one hit and struck out four in 1 2/3 innings for the win.

Houston’s Jose Altuve left in the third inning with right hamstring tightness.

De La Cruz’s home run that started Cincinnati’s scoring in the first.

It’s the eighth time since 1969 that the Astros have allowed 10 or more runs in an inning and the first time since the Rangers scored 11 in the third on Aug. 19, 2013, a season in which Houston lost a franchise-worst 111 games.

Houston RHP Ronel Blanco (2-3, 4.98 ERA) opposes RHP Chase Petty (0-1, 34.71) in the series finale Sunday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz prepares to bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (43) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Houston, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. leaves the mound during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Houston, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, May 10, 2025. TJ Friedl and Matt McLain also scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.

Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.

Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.

The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.

USC got no closer the rest of the way.

USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.

Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)