Hunter Brown fans nine as Astros shut out Reds

Hunter Brown posted his fourth scoreless start of the season and the host Houston Astros registered a 3-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

The Astros snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Reds behind another strong start from Brown (6-1), who finished an out shy of recording his eighth quality start in as many appearances this season.

Although he issued a season-high four walks in 5 2/3 innings, Brown surrendered only two hits and recorded a season-high-tying nine strikeouts for a fourth consecutive outing.

Brown faced a batter with multiple runners on base only twice.

He recorded a called third strike on Elly De La Cruz to close the top of the third inning with Santiago Espinal and Matt McLain, both of whom walked, on second and first base, respectively.

With Espinal and TJ Friedl on base in the fifth, Brown induced McLain to fly out to center to snuff out the threat. Brown didn't survive the sixth when he issued a two-out walk to Gavin Lux with the bases empty.

Brown tossed a season-high 101 pitches, including 59 for strikes, and leaned heavily on a four-seam fastball that touched 99 mph. He threw four additional pitches -- sinker, slider, changeup and knuckle curve -- to keep the Reds off balance.

Reds right-hander Nick Martinez (1-4) proved relatively elusive over his six innings. He allowed a season-high 10 hits but did not issue a walk. Martinez posted five strikeouts and made the Astros claw for the three runs they tallied while he pitched.

Martinez benefited from the Astros' faulty baserunning in the first when Jeremy Pena and Jose Altuve were erased after recording singles.

Christian Walker hit a leadoff double in the second inning and Zach Dezenzo produced a two-out single to supply the Astros with a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, Brendan Rodgers doubled to open the frame, and Mauricio Dubon singled him to third. Pena followed with an RBI groundout before Isaac Paredes drove home Dubon with a double down the first base line.

Altuve, Walker and Yainer Diaz produced two-hit games for the Astros, who won their second game in a row. Closer Josh Hader struck out three in the ninth to notch his ninth save.

The Reds fell for the sixth time in seven games.