Dmitri Young had a tough day at 3B. He wasn't able to make a play here on Jeff Bagwell's infield hit and he made two errors to boot. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        HOUSTON — Jeremy Sowers, the Reds' No.1 pick in the draft, officially began classes Wednesday at Vanderbilt. That means the Reds lost the rights to sign him. Big loss, right? Maybe not.

        The Reds found out Thursday that you don't have to be a top draft pick to be a top major-league pitcher. Roy Oswalt, the 24-year-old Houston right-hander, beat the Reds 6-1 to push his record to 12-2 and lower his ERA to 2.83.

        “That's a pretty special find,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.

        Oswalt is a find because the Astros didn't pick him until the 23rd round of the 1996 draft. This year, he is the best rookie in the National League not named Albert Pujols.

        The only run Oswalt allowed came on Adam Dunn's solo home run.

        Oswalt did not allow another hit until Dunn singled in the eighth. He retired 11 in a row in one stretch. The only other hit for the Reds was Dmitri Young's two-out single in the ninth.

        “He's good, real good,”

Except for Adam Dunn, Roy Oswalt had his way with the Reds. | ZOOM |

        Dunn said of Oswalt. “His arm speed is exactly the same on all his pitches. It makes it tough to pick up what he's throwing.”

        Thursday, he was mostly throwing strikes. He threw 111 pitches — 87 strikes, 24 balls. By comparison, Reds starter Dennys Reyes threw 93 pitches — 47 strikes, 46 balls. Oswalt pitched a complete game; Reyes lasted only 5 1/3 innings.

        “He's awfully good,” Boone said of Oswalt. “He's a very polished kid. It was a pretty impressive day. He reminded me of (Tom) Seaver. He not only has great stuff, he has great command.”

        Oswalt walked none and struck out nine. He has averaged nine strikeouts per start and hasn't given up more than one earned run in any of his last four starts.

        The Astros victory completed a three-game sweep. It was the Astros' 11th win in 13 games. It kept their lead in the National League Central at four games; Chicago had won earlier in the day.

        The Reds had not lost a series here before this one.

A fan interferes with a foul ball by Todd Walker as Astros RF Lance Berkman prepares to catch it. Walker was ruled out. | ZOOM |

        Reyes did not pitch badly. He allowed only three hits, and two of the four runs he allowed were unearned. Robin Jennings had his second error in three starts as a Red, and Young had two.

        “Too many base on balls,” said Reyes, who walked four. “But I threw the ball well. They have a great lineup.”

        Said Boone: “Dennys pitched pretty well. We made some defensive miscues. He made pitches when he had to. We just didn't make all the plays behind him.”

        While the Reds continue to search for starters, the Astros look like they found what they've needed in their minor leagues.

        Wade Miller, a rookie last year, and Oswalt have combined to go 26-9 this year. Miller was a 20th-round pick in 1996. Another rookie — Carlos Hernandez, a 20-year-old — has allowed two runs total in three starts. He's a free agent signed out of Venezuela.

        So maybe the Reds can find someone to overcome the loss of Sowers.

Dunn sets NL homer record Astros 6, Reds 1 Griffey wants louder Cinergy Reds lose rights to Sowers Reds get Pickering from Orioles Reds-Pirates Scouting Report Oswalt gets raves from both dugouts Reds box, runs

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