Bronson Arroyo allowed six hits in his first shutout since Aug. 13, 2009, as the Cincinnati Reds kept their hopes of a winning season alive with a 2-0 triumph over the visiting Houston Astros.

Miguel Cairo hit a solo homer and Chris Heisey drove in a run for the Reds (76-80), who need to win their final six games to secure a winning record.

Arroyo (9-12) entered with the major league lead of 44 home runs allowed after surrendering 10 blasts over his last four starts. He was different right from the first pitch on Wednesday, taking a no-hitter into the fifth and facing one over the minimum through the first seven innings.

Arroyo’s lone spot of trouble came in the eighth when he put runners on first and third with one out before recovering to strike out Brian Bogusevic and Jordan Schafer swinging.

He got some help from his defense in the seventh when Dave Sappelt made a leaping catch at the wall and turned it into an inning-ending double play.

Arroyo struck out two and did not walk a batter, needing only 91 pitches in the complete game.

Wandy Rodriguez (11-11) was the tough-luck loser, allowing just two runs on four hits in seven innings.