HOUSTON — Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros will have to wait a few days to see if they can continue their terrific stretch run.

Oswalt threw his second straight complete-game shutout and set a Houston record for consecutive scoreless innings, helping the streaking Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0 Thursday night for their 14th win in 15 games.

Houston was 66-66 and 11 games back of Milwaukee, the NL wild-card leader, before the run began Aug. 27. The latest win closed the Astros within three games of the Brewers, who lost 6-3 at Philadelphia.

It's uncertain when the Astros will play again. The first two games of their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs were postponed and Sunday's matchup could be next with Hurricane Ike closing in on Texas.

"It might be good for the guys," Oswalt said. "We've been sort of playing all the way out every game."

The Astros have won six straight and their 36-16 record since the All-Star break is the best mark in the majors.

Oswalt (15-9) hasn't allowed a run in 32Z\c innings, passing the previous record of 31 set by J.R. Richard in 1980. He needed only 90 pitches to finish his sixth career shutout and 15th complete game.

"I'm feeling better than I did at the beginning of the year," Oswalt said. "Seems like the fastball is running a little more, with late life. I'm kind of feeding off it."

Oswalt retired 20 in a row after Luis Rivas' one-out single in the first inning on his way to winning for the ninth time in 10 decisions. He finished with a three-hitter.

Oswalt also drove in two runs for the Astros, who've won nine straight at Minute Maid Park, matching their longest home win streak since July 2005.

The Pirates have lost six in a row and 17 of 20.