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Houston's Oswalt dazzles in one-hitter against Rockies

Sat 6th, September 2008

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Roy Oswalt threw his first shutout of the season as the Houston Astros downed the Colorado Rockies, 2-0, in the middle portion of a three-game series at Coors Field.

Oswalt (14-9) gave up just one hit, two walks and hit two batters while striking out six for the Astros, who have won nine of their last 10 games. Hunter Pence provided the offense with a two-run home run.

"Didn't have any great breaking pitches," said Oswalt. "Got 'em to chase a few down in the zone, but overall I got the fastball running on both sides of the plate. Got a lot of ground balls, and guys made plays behind me."

Jeff Francis (4-9) was solid on the mound as he gave up the two runs on seven hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts for the Rockies, who have dropped four of their last seven. Brad Hawpe got the lone hit, a single in the fifth, for Colorado.

The Rockies are now 5 1/2 games behind Los Angeles for first place in the NL West.

Oswalt retired the first 12 batters he faced before giving up a leadoff single to Hawpe in the fifth. Later in the inning he hit Chris Iannetta to put men on first and second, but it was with two outs and Troy Tulowitzki grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Houston got on the board in the sixth inning. Miguel Tejada hit a one-out single and, after Lance Berkman lined out, Pence launched a pitch over the left field wall for a 2-0 lead.

"Just a 3-1 pitch," said Pence about the home run. "Looked for a ball over the plate, and tried to get a piece of wood on it."

In the sixth, Clint Barmes was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Willy Taveras, but Matt Holliday grounded out to end the inning.

Taveras worked a leadoff walk in the ninth, but Oswalt got Holliday to ground into a fielder's choice, struck out Hawpe and then got Garrett Atkins swinging to end the game.

Game Notes

It was Pence's 21st home run of the season...It was Oswalt's second complete game of the season and the third straight start that he won. He has 14 complete games and five shutouts in his career. It was the fewest hits allowed in any of those shutouts and his season-long scoreless streak is now at 23 1/3 innings...Francis is 1-2 in three career starts versus Houston...Oswalt is 6-1 in nine career starts against Colorado and is 3-0 in four starts at Coors Field...Colorado is 4-1 against Houston this season...Houston left fielder Ty Wigginton left the game after grounding out in the first inning due to a left groin strain. He's listed as day-to-day.