* Jack Armstrong, known as The Tuna Boat Captain when he pitched for the Reds , won his first five starts in 1990.

* And Bronson Arroyo, who lived during spring training on his boat called The Nasty Hook, became the first pitcher wearing a Reds uniform to win his first three starts of a season since Schourek.

Arroyo held the Houston Astros to three runs and nine hits over seven curve-filled innings in a 4-3 victory Monday, April 20.

Arroyo didn't know the theme of the day was boats when he said, "I haven't even felt that good, but we're getting double plays (two) at the right time, hits at the right time. I'll just ride the wave right now and I'll take it. Yeah, I'll take it."

Joey Votto's two-run double in the seventh gave Arroyo the margin he needed.

It wasn't quite like sinking the Bismarck because the Astros are 4-9 and at the bottom of the National League Central, but the Reds , after taking three of four in the series, are 5-2 on this trip, 7-5 on the year and a half-game out of first place.

They jumped on Astros starter Mike Hampton quickly, scoring twice in the first on singles by Willy Taveras and Votto and a two-run, two-out single by Edwin Encarnacion.

The Astros retrieved one run in the second after right fielder Darnell McDonald went above the wall to snag Carlos Lee's potential home run.

And the inning ended with catcher Ryan Hanigan throwing out Ivan Rodriguez trying to steal second, the third straight would-be base thief wiped out by Hanigan.

It stayed that way until a double explosion in the Houston sixth. Lance Berkman, crunched the first pitch over the right-field wall to tie it 2-2, then two pitches later Lee homered to left for a 3-2 Astros lead.

Votto put the Reds back ahead in the seventh by banging an 0-2 pitch off the viaduct in left field with the bases loaded, scoring two runs.

Arthur Rhodes filled the bases on a double and two walks in the eighth, but with two outs he struck out Hunter Pence on the 10th pitch to preserve the lead.