HOUSTON – Roy Oswalt pitched eight strong innings to stay unbeaten against Arizona, and pinch-hitter Jose Vizcaino’s two-run single with the bases loaded in the eighth sent the Houston Astros to a 3-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.

Oswalt (5-4) allowed only five hits – all singles – struck out eight and walked one to improve to 4-0 in four career starts against Arizona.

Brad Lidge pitched the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances, sending Houston to its season high-tying third consecutive win.

The Astros, who totaled 13 runs in the previous two games, resumed their struggles at the plate against Arizona right-hander Javier Vazquez (4-3). But Houston got just enough offense for the victory.

Morgan Ensberg and Jason Lane led off the fourth inning with singles, and Adam Everett followed with a sacrifice fly to center to give Houston a 1-0 lead.

The run was greeted by a loud, sarcastic cheer from the crowd of 27,156 – the Astros entered the game 27th in the majors in runs.

With the bases loaded in the eighth, Vizcaino entered to pinch hit and drove in two runs off Arizona reliever Mike Koplove to add a little more cushion for Lidge.

That was just enough for Oswalt, who has held opponents to two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts. Oswalt and Lidge also extended Houston’s streak of scoreless innings to 24, the longest in the majors this season.

Vazquez allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings, striking out five. He also extended his streak to 30 innings without a walk.

The Diamondbacks dropped to 9-7 in one-run decisions, including 3-3 on the road.

Notes: The Astros ended a three-game home losing streak to Arizona. … Houston’s streak of 24 innings without allowing a run is the longest in club history since a 32-inning streak in 1997. … Arizona 3B Troy Glaus was back in the lineup after sitting out Sunday with a left knee injury. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. … Arizona CF Jose Cruz Jr., who went to high school and college (Rice) in Houston, went 2-for-4 in his Houston homecoming. His father, Jose Cruz, is the Astros’ first base coach and played in Houston from 1975-87.

AP-ES-05-17-05 2253EDT