CINCINNATI — Houston native Paul Janish gave his family and friends something to cheer about — even if he did help beat the Astros.

Janish drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with his third double, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over Houston on Tuesday night.

‘‘I was kidding around with some of their guys before the game about it being televised in Houston,’’ said Janish, who was born and still lives in Houston and went to Rice University. ‘‘I said, ’I’ve got to do something.’ It’s good playing in front of the home fans.’’

Houston reliever Sammy Gervachio (1-1) opened the seventh by hitting Corky Miller. Pitcher Bronson Arroyo ran for Miller and was sacrificed to second by pinch-hitter Drew Sutton.

Drew Stubbs struck out, but Janish lined up an opposite-field double to right-center to help send the Astros to their third consecutive loss.

Janish improved to 6 for 13 over his last three games after a 2-for-32 slump, prompting manager Dusty Baker to give him a rest last Saturday in Chicago.

‘‘I think the day off helped him gather his thoughts,’’ Baker said.

Janish, given first crack at the shortstop job after Alex Gonzalez was traded to Boston on Aug. 14, jokingly credited the presence of his mother, Debbie.

‘‘She usually brings some hits with her,’’ he said. ‘‘(The slump) was on my mind, but it’s not something you worry about. I was kind of in a funk, and it helped mentally. I just want to keep playing every day and finish strong.’’

Daniel Ray Herrera (4-4) struck out Michael Bourn, the only batter he faced, to end the seventh and earn the win.

Nick Masset allowed a hit and struck out the side in the eighth, and Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 36th save.

The Reds have won three of four.

Houston starter Roy Oswalt, roughed up for six runs and 10 hits over two innings while dealing with a bad back in his last start on Sept. 10, pitched into the sixth. He allowed six hits and four runs with no walks and three strikeouts.

Kip Wells rebounded from a 28-pitch first inning and lasted 6 2-3, giving up five hits and four runs with two walks and one strikeout. He retired 13 consecutive batters before Jeff Keppinger’s one-out single in the seventh.

Reds’ boxscore

Tuesday’s Game

Reds 5, Astros 4

Houston Cincinnati

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Bourn cf 3 1 0 0 Stubbs cf 4 1 1 1

KMatsu 2b 4 2 2 2 Janish ss 4 2 3 1

Pence rf 4 0 0 0 Votto 1b 3 1 2 0

Ca.Lee lf 4 0 1 0 BPhllps 2b 4 0 1 1

Tejada ss 4 1 1 1 Rolen 3b 3 0 1 2

Blum 1b 4 0 1 1 Bruce rf 4 0 1 0

Kppngr 3b 4 0 1 0 L.Nix lf 4 0 0 0

Coste c 4 0 1 0 CMiller c 2 0 0 0

Manzell pr 0 0 0 0 Arroyo pr 0 1 0 0

Oswalt p 2 0 0 0 Hanign c 0 0 0 0

Brocail p 0 0 0 0 K.Wells p 2 0 0 0

Michals ph 0 0 0 0 Herrer p 0 0 0 0

Gervac p 0 0 0 0 Sutton ph 0 0 0 0

Hwkns p 0 0 0 0 Masset p 0 0 0 0

Boone ph 1 0 0 0 Corder p 0 0 0 0

Totals 34 4 7 4 Totals 30 5 9 5

Houston 301 000 000 — 4

Cincinnati 200 002 10x — 5

LOB—Houston 5, Cincinnati 5. 2B—Janish 3 (17), Votto 2 (25), Rolen (4). HR—K.Matsui (6), Stubbs (6). SB—Bourn (56), K.Matsui (19), Tejada (5). S—Sutton. SF—Rolen.

IP H R ER BB SO

Houston

Oswalt 5 6 4 4 0 3

Brocail BS,1-1 1 2 0 0 0 0

Gervacio L,1-1 1 1 1 1 1 2

Hawkins 1 0 0 0 0 1

Cincinnati

K.Wells 6 2-3 5 4 4 2 1

Herrera W,4-4 1-3 0 0 0 0 1

Masset H,15 1 1 0 0 0 3

Cordero S,36-39 1 1 0 0 0 0

Oswalt pitched to 2 batters in the 6th. HBP—by Gervacio (C.Miller). Umpires—Home, Tim Welke; First, Jim Reynolds; Second, Chad Fairchild; Third, Bill Welke. T—2:27. A—11,923 (42,319).