Oswalt has won 23 of 24 decisions against Cincinnati and the Astros desperately needed this one.

Houston came into the game trailing New York and Milwaukee by 3 1/2 games in the race for the NL wild card. The Mets beat Chicago 7-6 and the Brewers beat Pittsburgh 5-1 in 10 innings to push the Astros to the brink - one more Houston loss or victory by either the Mets or Brewers will mathematically eliminate them.

Michael Bourn matched a career high with four RBIs and Oswalt added an RBI single as the Astros beat the Reds for the 12th time in 15 meetings. Oswalt (17-10), pitching on three days' rest, improved to 11-2 in his last 13 decisions.

Oswalt breezed after giving up a solo homer to Corey Patterson in the first. Patterson's 10th home run of the season was only the second allowed by Oswalt in his last seven starts.

The Astros loaded the bases on Johnny Cueto (9-14) in the second and Bourn drove a double into the left-field corner to make it 3-1.

Houston had the bases loaded again with two outs in the third and this time, Oswalt drove in a run with a bloop single to right. Oswalt leads the Astros' pitching staff with five RBIs. Cueto walked Kazuo Matsui to force in another run and Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker brought in reliever Jon Adkins.

Gary Majewski relieved Adkins in the fifth and Matsui added an RBI single to stretch the lead to 6-1.

That was more than enough for Oswalt, who didn't give up a hit after Jay Bruce led off the second with a single. Oswalt walked three, but retired most of the others on groundouts.

Oswalt came out to pitch the seventh, but Houston manager Cecil Cooper followed him to the mound and replaced him with left-hander Wesley Wright. Oswalt tipped his cap to acknowledge the standing ovation as he walked back to the dugout.

Matsui and Bourn added RBI hits in the seventh off Josh Roenicke. The Astros' 16 hits matched a season high.

Danny Richar and Javier Valentin had RBI singles for Cincinnati in the ninth off Alberto Arias. Fernando Nieve relieved and Jerry Hairston, Jr. hit a three-run homer before Cooper brought in Jose Valverde, who finished for his 43rd save.

The Reds lost for just the fourth time in 12 games. They had won six straight series before losing two of three in Houston.

Notes: Oswalt improved to 28-8 in September and October. ... Oswalt has pitched at least six innings in his last 12 starts. ... Cueto's outing marked the 46th start by a rookie for the Reds this season. ... The retractable roof at Minute Maid Park remained open for the 16th time this season. The Astros are 10-6 in games with the roof open.