ARLINGTON, Texas – Roy Oswalt struck out nine while throwing eight shutout innings, benefiting from a home run-robbing catch by newly acquired Carlos Beltran, and the Houston Astros won 1-0 Sunday to end the Texas Rangers’ eight-game winning streak.

Beltran, acquired from Kansas City in a three-way trade last Thursday, scored the lone run for Houston. He also saved a run with his incredible catch in the first.

Michael Young led off for Texas with a deep drive to center. Beltran leaped with his glove extended over the top of the wall, but it wasn’t immediately clear that he had caught the ball when he dropped to the ground in a sitting position.

After a momentary pause, with Young already trotting halfway between second and third, Beltran got up and pulled the ball out of his glove.

The Rangers’ winning streak was the longest in the majors, but they still lead the AL West. Texas plays its remaining 14 games before the All-Star break on the road without a day off.

It was the third time this season Texas was shut out, and the Rangers’ first 1-0 loss at home since June 23, 1997, against Anaheim.

Oswalt (6-6), who didn’t walk a batter, overcame extra-base hits in three consecutive innings for the win.

Brad Lidge, who took over as the closer when Octavio Dotel was sent to Oakland as part of the Beltran deal, pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in six chances – completing the Astros’ seventh shutout.

Ryan Drese (4-5) threw his second complete game for the Rangers, allowing six hits over nine innings and striking out four. He had been 4-0 at home.

After Alfonso Soriano’s two-out single in the first, Oswalt retired 12 straight batters – getting seven of them on strikeouts.

Eric Young tripled with two outs in the fifth, hitting a ball into the gap that right fielder Lance Berkman took a bad angle on and couldn’t cut off. The ball got to the wall, but Oswalt then got Gary Matthews Jr. on an inning-ending groundout.

Rod Barajas and Brad Fullmer had leadoff doubles the next two innings for Texas.

Barajas was stranded when the top three hitters in the lineup went 1-2-3 in the sixth.

After Fullmer doubled, Oswalt hit Mark Teixeira with an 0-2 pitch. But Fullmer was picked off by catcher Raul Chavez, on the second straight throw he made. Oswalt then struck out David Dellucci and ended the inning with a comebacker.

Houston got its lone run after loading the bases with no outs in the second – Beltran and Lance Berkman singled, and Mike Lamb walked. Beltran scored when Morgan Ensberg grounded in a double play before Jose Vizcaino grounded out.

Beltran was 1-for-3, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. He was 4-for-11 in his first three games with the Astros.

Matthews made a run-saving catch to end the Houston sixth. With Berkman running on contact from first, Matthews went deep into the left-center gap and with a full extension of his left arm caught Ensberg’s flyball.

Notes: LHP Andy Pettitte, on the disabled list (left forearm strain) since May 27, returns to the Astros rotation Tuesday night at the Chicago Cubs. Manager Jimy Williams said INF Eric Bruntlett will be sent back to Triple-A New Orleans. … There was no batting practice on the field for the third straight day. Rain was the cause the first day, but Sunday was because of a fan photo day on the field.

AP-ES-06-27-04 1714EDT