Oswalt strikes out eight in Astros’ 4-1 win over Rockies

Oswalt, Lee carry Astros past Rockies

HOUSTON — Roy Oswalt had a season-high eight strikeouts, Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and the Houston Astros snapped a four-game losing skid at home with a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

Oswalt (2-2) improved to 7-1 in 10 career starts against Colorado. He allowed six hits and two walks in seven innings to match his longest outing of the season.

Todd Helton hit a solo homer for the Rockies, who’ve lost five of their last seven. They’re 2-2 since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager on Friday.

Aaron Cook (3-3) lost his second straight start, allowing nine hits in six innings.

Lance Berkman gave the Astros a 1-0 lead with a two-out, RBI single in the first inning.

Oswalt gave up five hits but no runs through four innings, while Cook retired the next six hitters after Berkman’s hit, five on groundouts.

Hunter Pence led off the Houston fourth with a single, went to third on Lee’s blooper and scored on Berkman’s sacrifice fly to left for a 2-0 Astros lead.

Helton hit a solo homer over the right-field wall, just out of Pence’s reach, in the fifth. Helton’s seventh homer of the season was the 12th allowed by Oswalt in 2009.

Miguel Tejada singled to left in the Houston sixth to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest active streak in the NL. One out later, Lee lined a homer into the left-field seats, his ninth of the season.

Matt Murton pinch-hit for Cook leading off the Colorado seventh and grounded out. Oswalt fanned the next two batters to reach eight strikeouts for the game.

Darin Erstad batted for Oswalt in the Houston seventh. Oswalt threw 102 pitches.

Chris Sampson relieved Oswalt and allowed two singles in the Colorado eighth. LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth and earned his seventh save. He did not allow a run for the 18th time in his last 21 appearances.