CINCINNATI(AP) -- Houston native Paul Janish gave his family and
friends something to cheer about - even if he did help beat the
Astros.

Janish drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with his
third double, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over
Houston on Tuesday night.

"I was kidding around with some of their guys before the game
about it being televised in Houston," said Janish, who was born
and still lives in Houston and went to Rice University. "I said,
'I've got to do something.' It's good playing in front of the
home fans."

Houston reliever Sammy Gervachio (1-1) opened the seventh by
hitting Corky Miller. Pitcher Bronson Arroyo ran for Miller and
was sacrificed to second by pinch-hitter Drew Sutton.

Drew Stubbs struck out, but Janish lined up an opposite-field
double to right-center to help send the Astros to their third
consecutive loss.

Janish improved to 6 for 13 over his last three games after a
2-for-32 slump, prompting manager Dusty Baker to give him a rest
last Saturday in Chicago.

"I think the day off helped him gather his thoughts," Baker
said.

Janish, given first crack at the shortstop job after Alex
Gonzalez was traded to Boston on Aug. 14, jokingly credited the
presence of his mother, Debbie.

"She usually brings some hits with her," he said. "(The slump)
was on my mind, but it's not something you worry about. I was
kind of in a funk, and it helped mentally. I just want to keep
playing every day and finish strong."

Daniel Ray Herrera (4-4) struck out Michael Bourn, the only
batter he faced, to end the seventh and earn the win.

Nick Masset allowed a hit and struck out the side in the eighth,
and Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 36th save.

The Reds have won three of four.

Houston starter Roy Oswalt, roughed up for six runs and 10 hits
over two innings while dealing with a bad back in his last start
on Sept. 10, pitched into the sixth. He allowed six hits and
four runs with no walks and three strikeouts.

Kip Wells rebounded from a 28-pitch first inning and lasted 6
2-3, giving up five hits and four runs with two walks and one
strikeout. He retired 13 consecutive batters before Jeff
Keppinger's one-out single in the seventh.

"We started out well against Wells, but we didn't do a whole lot
after the first inning," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. "He
started to go with his off-speed stuff. Sometimes, guys figure
it out."

Wells got himself immediately into trouble by walking Bourn on
four pitches to lead off the game. Bourn, who entered leading
the National League with 55 stolen bases, swiped second and
scored on Kaz Matsui's lined single to center field.

Matsui stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on
a single by Miguel Tejada, who stole second and scored on Geoff
Blum's single, a sharp grounder that just eluded the diving
backhand stab of second baseman Brandon Phillips.

"They were running crazy," Baker said. "Every stolen base ended
up scoring. Kip was a little shaky, but he settled down big
time. He found his command."

Stubbs led off the bottom of the first by hitting the first
pitch he'd ever seen from Oswalt into the lower deck in left
field for the rookie's sixth home run since being called up on
Aug 19. Two pitches later, Janish doubled to deep right-center
and later scored on Scott Rolen's sacrifice fly.

Matsui led off the third inning with his sixth homer of the
season and first in 139 at-bats since Aug. 3 against San
Francisco.

The Reds tied it in the sixth. Janish and Joey Votto led off
with doubles, though Janish could only get to third after
waiting to see if left fielder Carlos Lee would make a sliding
catch of Votto's blooper - he didn't. Doug Brocail relieved
Oswalt. Phillips grounded to second to drive in Janish, and
Rolen hit a fly ball to deep center field over the head of the
drawn-in Bourn for a ground-rule, tying double.

"The last curveball in the fifth, my back tightened a little,"
Oswalt said. "I tried to get through the heart of the order in
the sixth, but I didn't have enough. I'll see how it feels
tomorrow."

NOTES: Janish became the first Reds batter with three doubles in
one game since Jorge Cantu on Sept. 21, 2007, at San Francisco
... Houston 1B Lance Berkman was scratched from the Astros
original starting lineup when pregame treatment didn't clear up
back and hip problems. Manager Cecil Cooper said Berkman might
be sidelined until Friday. ... Matsui, originally scheduled to
get the night off, was in Houston's second lineup. ... Astros'
RHP Jose Valverde remained in Houston with a high fever and sore
throat. ... OF Laynce Nix was activated by the Reds and started
in left field ... ESPN college basketball announcer Dick Vitale
watched the game with Reds owner Bob Castellini.