Houston ? Roy Oswalt appreciates the run support Houston’s offense has been giving him and the rest of the Astros’ starting pitchers.

Oswalt (17-9) became the National League’s first 17-game winner, and the Astros extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 9-7 victory Tuesday over the Cincinnati Reds.

“When you get a three- or four-run cushion, you can go right at them and make them hit the ball early in the count and keep your pitch count down,” Oswalt said.

Houston has been averaging nearly 10 runs per game during its streak. The Astros also have scored six or more runs in a franchise-record 11 straight games and have scored 104 runs in during that span.

“We’re going to be hard to catch if we keep this up,” Oswalt said.

Oswalt gave up four runs on six hits in 72/3 innings, improving to 9-1 in his last 11 starts and 11-0 in 15 career games against the Reds. He struck out nine and walked three.

“I haven’t really thought much about it, but since they don’t have the same guys every year, it’s hard to explain,” Oswalt said. “The big thing is that I always get good run support against them.”

Oswalt spent much of Monday night at the hospital with his wife, Nicole, who gave birth to their first child, Arlee Faith, earlier that day.

“I didn’t get much sleep, but it didn’t effect me much,” he said. “I did get a little tired in the seventh though.”

Mike Lamb homered and drove in four runs, and Carlos Beltran hit a two-run shot for the Astros, who are on the second-longest winning streak in club history. The team record is 12 straight from Sept. 3 to Sept. 14, 1999.

The Astros have won 14 of their last 15, and 19 of their last 22 in improving to 31-19 since the All-Star break. They entered the night just one-half game behind Chicago in the NL wild-card race.

“They are the hottest team in baseball,” Reds manager Dave Miley said.

Marlins 7, Mets 3

Miami — Playing for the first time in five days following Hurricane Frances, the Marlins picked up right where they left off. A.J. Burnett (6-6) allowed two hits in 61/3 innings, Miguel Cabrera hit a tape-measure homer, and the Marlins extended their longest winning streak since 1997 to eight games by beating New York. The Mets allowed two unearned runs, totaled three hits and lost their 10th game in a row.

Pirates 2, Brewers 0

Pittsburgh — Dave Williams pitched 61/3 shutout innings for his first victory in nearly three full seasons, and Jason Bay homered for the Pirates. The Pirates ended a five-game losing streak with only their sixth victory in 21 games. The Brewers lost their ninth in 10 road games, and are 1-5 in Pittsburgh this season.

Rockies 8, Giants 7

Denver — Jeromy Burnitz hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to overshadow Barry Bonds’ 698th homer and lift Colorado over San Francisco. Colorado took a 6-4 lead in the seventh inning on Mark Sweeney’s grand slam, only to give it back on Ray Durham’s two-run double off Tim Harikkala (6-3) in the eighth. Burnitz followed with a two-run homer in the bottom half off Jason Christiansen (4-3), giving Colorado its fifth win in six games.

Expos 7, Cubs 6 (12)

Chicago — Brian Schneider hit a go-ahead single in the 12th inning, and Montreal beat Chicago. Chicago is a half-game ahead of San Francisco and Houston in the NL wild-card race. Juan Rivera beat out an infield single to start the 12th against Todd Wellemeyer (1-1), the Cubs’ eighth pitcher, and advanced on pinch-hitter Henry Mateo’s sacrifice. Schneider hit a hard single to center on a 2-2 pitch to give the Expos the lead, and Jamey Carroll added a sacrifice fly.

Dodgers 8, D’backs 2

Los Angeles — Pinch-hitter Robin Ventura hit his 18th career grand slam to tie Willie McCovey for third place on the career list, Hideo Nomo won for the first time in 11 decisions, and Los Angeles beat Arizona. Coming off a 6-7 road trip that ended with three straight losses at St. Louis, the Dodgers moved 41/2 games ahead of San Francisco, who lost to Colorado.

Cardinals 4, Padres 2

San Diego — Pinch-hitter Roger Cedeno’s go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning helped St. Louis beat San Diego for the Cardinals’ 10th win in 11 games. Rick Ankiel, whose once-promising career was derailed by wild pitches and elbow surgery, made his first appearance for the Cardinals in more than three years. He allowed one hit in a scoreless inning.

Phillies-Braves ppd, rain

Atlanta — The Atlanta Braves’ track record of avoiding home rainouts was no match for the heavy winds and persistent rain brought to the area by tropical storm Frances. The Braves will go to great extremes to avoid postponing a game, but the conditions forced a quick decision to reschedule Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.