Pittsburgh ? After puzzling his own team all season, Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Oliver Perez decided to start fooling the guys wearing the other uniforms.

Perez shook off a season-long slump to allow four hits over 7 2/3 mostly dominating innings, outpitching Roy Oswalt and leading the Pirates to only their second home victory, 2-0, over the Houston Astros on Monday night.

Perez (1-2), taking his catcher’s advice by mixing up his pitches more than before, didn’t give up a hit until two outs in the sixth and struck out nine.

Oswalt (3-2) gave up two runs on sacrifice flies to end his three-game winning game.

Perez developed into one of the NL’s top starters at age 22 last season, going 12-10 with a 2.98 earned-run average and 239 strikeouts. But this season couldn’t have gone much worse for the left-hander before Monday, as he was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA and six homers allowed in 19 innings.

“But I forget everything tonight,” Perez said. “I had to be focused, because this was an important game for us. We needed to win.”

According to catcher Humberto Cota, Perez turned it around by changing his pitching pattern.

“He’s been in the big leagues almost three years, and the hitters are starting to know him. They know he’s got that great slider,” Cota said. “So he’s pitching backward more — when he sees them moving up in the box for the slider, he’s throwing the fastball. He’s doing the little things now, not just trying to overthrow the ball.”

The Pirates had a major-league-worst 1-6 home record, but ended a four-game losing streak at PNC Park by dropping the Astros’ road record to 1-9 — also the worst in the majors. The Astros not only couldn’t hit Perez consistently, they lost a possible run because of a fan-interference call.

“Our rotten luck is a little worse than their rotten luck,” manager Phil Garner said.

Houston's Raul Chavez, right, singles in the eighth inning off Pittsburgh starter Oliver Perez in the eighth inning. Behind the plate are catcher Humberto Cota and umpire Alfonso Marquez, marking the first time in major-league history that an all-Mexican battery was backed by a Mexican umpire. The Pirates won, 2-0, Monday in Pittsburgh.

Craig Biggio doubled down the left-field line with two outs in the eighth and a runner on first, but Raul Chavez was stopped at third when a fan touched the ball. Garner wasn’t certain if Chavez might have scored on the play.

“You don’t know what might happen — we might get a run across that breaks the ice,” Garner said. “You just don’t know.”

With the potential tying run at second and Perez tiring after throwing 121 pitches, Rick White came on to get Jeff Bagwell on a fly to right to end the threat. Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his seventh save in as many opportunities.

Mets 5, Braves 4

New York — Mike Piazza broke out of a slump with three hits, Cliff Floyd and David Wright hit two-run homers, and the Mets came from behind to end Atlanta’s four-game winning streak. Aaron Heilman (2-2) allowed just two hits over seven innings and retired 15 straight batters, but was trailing 1-0 when the Mets came to bat in the sixth against Horacio Ramirez (1-2). Piazza’s double into the left-field corner scored Kaz Matsui with the tying run. Floyd hit his fifth homer, stretching his hitting streak to 12 games, and Wright ended Ramirez’s night with his fourth.

Phillies 5, Nationals 4

Washington — Taking advantage of seven walks by Washington pitchers — plus two errors — Philadelphia built a four-run lead and held on to beat the Nationals to end a three-game losing streak that dropped them into last in the NL East. The Nationals have gone 2-6 since opening their first season in Washington 8-4. Cory Lidle (1-2) went six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits, and helped himself with an RBI single. Rheal Cormier pitched the seventh, and Tim Worrell gave up a run in the eighth before giving way to closer Billy Wagner, who got the last four outs for his 250th career save.

Cubs 10, Reds 6

Chicago — Mark Prior struck out a season-high 10 in six strong innings, and Neifi Perez hit a three-run homer and had four RBIs for Chicago. Prior (3-0) has won all of his starts this season and is looking a lot like the pitcher he was in 2003 when he went 18-6. He gave up his first earned run of the year in the fourth, a leadoff homer to Austin Kearns. Prior struck out Paul Wilson with his 106th and final pitch to retire the side in the sixth. He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks. Paul Wilson (1-2) pitched six innings and allowed five runs on eight hits.

Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 2

Los Angeles — Javier Vazquez pitched eight strong innings, Troy Glaus and Shawn Green got the key hits in a three-run first, and the Diamondbacks won their fourth straight game. Vazquez (2-2) allowed five hits, including solo homers by J.D. Drew and Jeff Kent, walked two and struck out nine in his second consecutive strong outing.

Padres 5, Giants 3

San Francisco — Geoff Blum had a two-run homer and a go-ahead single, and San Diego ended a three-game losing streak. Woody Williams (2-1) pitched seven strong innings as the Padres spoiled another chance for Felipe Alou to earn his 200th victory as Giants manager. Mark Loretta singled twice and drove in a run, and Phil Nevin had an RBI double to give him a 10-game hitting streak for San Diego.

Brewers-Cardinals, ppd

St. Louis — A rainout night was the best possible news for the Milwaukee pitching staff. The postponement of the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals means the Brewers don’t have to use a substitute starter for a while. Wes Obermueller, subbing for ailing Ben Sheets, was scheduled to make his first start of the season on Monday. The game will be played Thursday afternoon, which was to be an off day for both teams.