HOUSTON, April 17 (UPI) -- The first home run in a Cincinnati uniform for Ramon Hernandez, a two-run shot in the ninth, lifted the Reds to a 2-1 win over Houston Friday.
Three Houston pitchers had combined to throw shutout ball through eight innings, when Jose Valverde (0-1) came on in an attempt to pick up his first save of the season. Edwin Encarnacion drew a one-out walk and Hernandez followed by hitting a 1-2 pitch out to right.
Houston put the would-be tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth with one out against Francisco Cordero, but Jason Smith grounded into a double play to end the game. Cordero got his third save.
The win went to Nick Masset (1-0), who threw 1 1/3 innings of relief. Houston managed only four hits, all singles.
This is the 11th season in the majors for Hernandez. Before coming to Cincinnati, he spent five years with Oakland, two with San Diego and three with Baltimore.
