The Associated Press

Reds fans finally got to see Seth Etherton pitch today. Too bad he didn't pitch as well as Wade Miller.

Making his Reds debut three seasons after coming to the team, Etherton allowed six hits and five runs in five innings against the Astros. Miller pitched one-hit ball for six innings and Lance Berkman hit a three-run homer as Houston snapped a four-game skid with a 5-2 win.

It was Etherton's first major league appearance since Aug. 4, 2000, for Anaheim. Etherton was acquired by the Reds in December 2000, but a series of arm injuries kept him from pitching in the majors.

Jeff Kent homered for the second consecutive game for the Astros.

Miller (10-10) overcame control problems to win his third straight start and improve to 6-0 in 11 career games against Cincinnati. The right-hander had four strikeouts and matched his season high with four walks.

Rick White allowed a run in the seventh and Octavio Dotel worked a scoreless eighth. Billy Wagner got three outs for his 35th save in 38 opportunities, finishing the five-hitter.

Kent led off the second with his 17th home run. Miller singled and scored on Jeff Bagwell's sacrifice fly in the third for a 2-0 lead.

Morgan Ensberg singled and Bagwell walked with one out in the fifth. After Kent flied out, Berkman lined his 22nd homer of the season into the right-field seats.

Miller held the Reds hitless until Dernell Stenson connected for what appeared to be homer with two outs in the fourth. The umpires ruled it a double, but replays seemed to show the ball went into the first row of seats before bouncing back onto the field.

The Reds scored without a hit in the third after Miller walked the bases loaded. Reggie Taylor had an RBI groundout.

The Reds added a run off White in the seventh. Stenson led off with a double to deep center field and scored on a single by pinch-hitter Wily Mo Pena.

Notes: Stenson's start and hit were his first in the majors. ... Stenson started in place of Adam Dunn, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb. ... Etherton was called up from Triple-A Louisville to fill Dunn's roster spot. ... Berkman's homer was his 19th against the Reds in 189 at-bats. ... Houston avoided its first five-game losing streak since May 19-25, 2002.