CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Mike Burrows pitched seven shutout innings and the Houston Astros erupted for five runs in the ninth inning Friday night, crushing the Cincinnati Reds 10-0 at Great American Ball Park.

The Astros improved to 16-23 while the Reds fell to 20-19 in front of 24,347 fans. The game lasted 2 hours, 32 minutes.

Burrows, who entered with a 1-4 record and a 5.14 ERA, was sharp from the outset. The right-hander allowed three hits, walked none and struck out six, lowering his ERA to 3.67. He retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced after the Reds put two runners on base in the fourth inning.

Cincinnati’s best scoring chance came in the fourth. JJ Bleday walked, Elly De La Cruz lined out sharply, then Sal Stewart singled and Nathaniel Lowe singled to load the bases. But Spencer Steer flied out to right fielder Cam Smith and Tyler Stephenson struck out swinging, ending the threat.

Houston took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Brice Matthews led off with a triple to center field, and Zach Dezenzo followed with a home run to right field, his first of the season.

The Astros added two more in the sixth. Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch, and Yordan Alvarez crushed a line-drive home run to right-center field, his 13th of the year. Isaac Paredes doubled but was stranded.

Houston made it 5-0 in the eighth. Altuve doubled with one out, moved to third on a groundout by Alvarez and scored on a groundout by Paredes.

The Astros broke the game open in the ninth. Cam Smith singled, Matthews singled, and pinch-hitter Zach Cole launched a three-run homer to right field, his second of the season. Christian Vázquez followed with a solo home run to left-center, his third. Nick Allen and Braden Shewmake singled, and Shay Whitcomb singled in Allen. The inning ended when Christian Walker grounded into a double play, but the damage was done.

Houston collected 13 hits, including home runs from Dezenzo, Alvarez, Cole and Vázquez. Cole went 1 for 1 with three RBIs, Alvarez went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Dezenzo went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

Cincinnati managed five hits. Elly De La Cruz doubled in the first and singled in the ninth. Stewart and Lowe each had two hits.

Nick Lodolo took the loss for Cincinnati, his first decision of the season. The left-hander allowed five hits and four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out two.

Pierce Johnson threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the Reds, allowing no hits and striking out two. Tejay Antone allowed one earned run in the ninth.

Houston’s bullpen closed out the shutout. AJ Blubaugh pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one. Logan VanWey pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit and striking out two.

The game was a bounce-back performance for Burrows, who had lost his two previous starts, giving up three earned runs in six innings at Boston and two earned runs in five innings against the Yankees.

Houston had lost three of its previous four games coming into Friday, including a 12-2 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The Astros’ offense had scored three runs or fewer in three of those four games.

Cincinnati had lost six straight games entering the contest, with its most recent victory coming April 30 against Colorado. The Reds had scored three runs or fewer in six of their previous seven games.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Houston 5, Cincinnati 2. Interstat’s ELO system had given Cincinnati a 53.60 percent probability to win. Cincinnati was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total of 10 runs went under the over/under line of 9.5.

The two teams continue the series Saturday at Great American Ball Park.