HOUSTON – Luke Scott hit a go-ahead, two-run double in a three-run eighth inning, leading the Houston Astros over the Cincinnati Reds 7-5.

With the Reds ahead 5-4, pinch-hitters Mike Lamb and Mark Loretta hit back-to-back singles off Mike Stanton (1-1) with one out in the eighth, and Scott doubled to left-center for a 6-5 lead. Craig Biggio followed with an RBI double, his 2,957th hit.

Dan Wheeler got three outs for his fifth save in six chances, inducing Ken Griffey Jr. to ground into a game-ending double play with two on. Houston, which overcame Griffey’s 566th homer, took two of three for its first series win since sweeping two games at Cincinnati on April 18-19.

Chad Qualls (3-1) inherited a 4-2 lead in the eighth from Wandy Rodriguez but walked Ryan Freel, then allowed Brandon Phillips’ triple and Griffey tying single. With Jeff Conine batting, Griffey stole second and advanced to third on an error by catcher Brad Ausmus, who overthrew second base. Conine followed with a sacrifice fly.

Rodriguez, 0-3 in five starts, struck out a career-high eight and allowed two runs, six hits and no walks in seven innings.

Reds starter Eric Milton gave up four runs – three earned – and seven hits in five innings. Milton, who has a 4.85 ERA, avoided becoming the first Reds pitcher to lose his first five starts since Joey Jay in 1963.

Griffey hit his second homer in three days in the first inning. Rodriguez retired the next seven batters and 15 of the next 17. At one point, the 28-year-old struck out five in a row. Griffey singled in the sixth before Rodriguez struck out Conine to end the inning.

Houston took a 3-1 lead in the first when Carlos Lee hit a two-run double and rookie Hunter Pence had an RBI single. Morgan Ensberg added an RBI double in the fourth.

David Ross cut Cincinnati’s deficit to 4-2 with an RBI double in the seventh.

Notes: Houston reliever Rick White, who strained a muscle in his left side while warming up to pitch last week, will make rehab appearances on Saturday and Monday at Double-A Corpus Christi. … Houston’s Adam Everett is 0-for-11 in the last three games.

AP-ES-05-03-07 2306EDT