Cincinnati 6, Houston 0

Reds 6, Astros 0: Jay Bruce homered for the third straight game and drove in four runs and Johnny Cueto pitched seven shutout innings to improve to 3-0 for host Cincinnati.

Bruce's sixth homer - a two-run shot to right in the fifth inning - gave the Reds a 6-0 lead. His two-run double off the left field wall just inside the foul line made it 4-0 in the third.

Cueto scattered five hits as the Reds improved to 4-1 in his five starts and was the beneficiary of some excellent defense. The best play was provided by shortstop Zack Cozart, who dove and made a backhanded stop of J.D. Martinez's line drive into the hole and threw him out while sitting on the ground in the sixth.

Houston starter Lucas Harrell (1-2) allowed six runs - five earned - and nine hits in six innings.

The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the first. With two outs, Joey Votto doubled and scored when Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer played Brandon Phillips' line drive into a triple. Scott Rolen followed with a single to right.

Schafer singled in the fifth and has reached base safely in all 21 games, the longest streak by an Astro to start a season since Ricky Guiterrez’s 23-game run in 1998.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Houston first baseman Carlos Lee did not play because of a sprained left ankle. Lee left Friday's game after suffering the injury chasing an errant throw. The Astros said he will also miss Sunday's game. ... Votto, who had a hit and scored twice, has reached base safely in 20 of 21 games. ... Cueto improved to 2-5 lifetime against Houston. ... Houston's Jose Altuve, who entered the game second in the National League with a .378 average, went 0-for-4 after going 10-for-18 in his previous four games.

• Cincinnati will play their next game at home against Houston. The Reds have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .545 after a loss.
• Houston will play their next game on the road against Cincinnati. The Astros have a W/L % of .375 after a win and .417 after a loss.