CINCINNATI, April 24 (UPI) -- Lance Berkman drove in three runs Thursday in the Houston Astros' 5-3 victory against the Cincinnati Reds.
His two-run homer in the top of the first inning staked Houston to a quick 2-0 lead and his RBI double in the fifth produced the game's final run.
Darin Erstad and starter and winner Jack Cassel drove in one run each.
Berkman had three hits, while Hunter Pence had a run and two hits for the Astros, whose two-game sweep gave them a season-high five-game winning streak.
Cassel (1-0) surrendered three earned runs and seven hits in five innings and Jose Valverde earned his third save this season.
Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr., Scott Hatteberg and Paul Bako all drove in one run.
Edwin Encarnacion went 2 for 3, extending his hitting streak to 14 games for the Reds, who have lost three of their last four games.
Losing pitcher Johnny Cueto (1-2) yielded five earned runs and eight hits in seven innings.
