HOUSTON, July 24 (UPI) -- Johnny Cueto hurled eight shutout innings and his teammates backed him up with a 14-hit attack Saturday in the Cincinnati Reds' 7-0 whitewash of Houston.
Cueto (10-2) scattered four hits, issued only one walk and fanned six to raise his record 4-1 in his last seven starts and post his first career victory over the Astros.
Joey Votto and Ramon Hernandez each homered, got two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Laynce Nix went 3-for-3 with two RBI for the Reds, who moved past the St. Louis Cardinals into first place in the National League East.
Roy Oswalt (6-12) took the loss in what could have been his final start in his long Astros career, missing a chance to tie Joe Niekro's club record of 144 wins. Reports have indicated Houston is on the verge of trading him to the Cardinals or the Philadelphia Phillies.
Oswalt surrendered six runs on nine hits in five innings.
