Roy Oswalt tossed a one-hit shutout and was backed by Lance Berkman’s two solo home runs as the Houston Astros secured a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday to sweep the three-game series.
Oswalt (6-10) allowed four baserunners in pitching his second career one-hitter. Neil Walker had a two-out single in the first and Oswalt walked two and hit a batter for his seventh career shutout and 19th complete game.
Oswalt, the subject of trade rumors after requesting he wanted to be dealt earlier this season, retired the side in order five times. The right-hander struck out eight and threw 117 pitches in snapping a career-long skid of six straight losses at home. He hadn’t won there since April 23.
Berkman, who had three hits, belted both his homers off Pittsburgh starter Ross Ohlendorf in the first and fourth innings, respectively.
Carlos Lee added a pair of hits and Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence each had a hit and a stolen base as Houston moved to 6-0 on the season against the Pirates.
Ohlendorf (1-7) pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits, walking one and striking out five. The 27-year-old was coming off his first win of the campaign in his last outing.
Pittsburgh | Houston | |
Ross Ohlendorf | Player | Roy Oswalt |
Loss | W/L | Win |
7.0 | IP | 9.0 |
5 | Strikeouts | 8 |
7 | Hits | 1 |
2.57 | ERA | 0.00 |
Pittsburgh | Houston | |
Neil Walker | Player | Lance Berkman |
1 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 2 |
1 | TB | 9 |
.250 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Pittsburgh | 1 | 0 | 1 | .036 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Houston | 9 | 2 | 17 | .281 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |