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Astros upend Latos, Padres

Apr 17, 2011 - 2:14 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Joe Inglett had a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh inning which proved to be the winning run, as the Houston Astros held on for a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres in the third installment of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Chris Johnson had a two-run homer to tie the game in the fourth as the Astros took a 2-1 lead in the series.

Mark Melancon got the win (1-0) by recording the final out in the seventh. Houston starting pitcher Nelson Figueroa went 6 2/3 innings allowing three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and struck out five.

Chase Headley had two doubles and two RBI for the Padres, who got 6 1/3 innings from starting pitcher Mat Latos (0-2). He gave up all five runs on four hits while fanning six.

With the game deadlocked at three apiece in the seventh, Latos was chased off the mound following two straight walks. Chad Qualls came on and retired Humberto Quintero on a fielder's choice before serving up an RBI single to Inglett to give the Padres a 4-3 lead.

Qualls then loaded the bases with a Michael Bourn walk and Angel Sanchez hit a deep grounder to short which Alberto Gonzalez couldn't make a play on. Quintero scored on the play to give the Astros a two-run cushion. The San Diego reliever, though, got out of the jam with a knee-buckling curveball to Hunter Pence for a third strike.

Houston kept the lead as Jeff Fulchino came in to get a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Brandon Lyon entered in the ninth to get his third save of the season.

Figueroa was tagged for two runs in the first on Headley's two-run double off the top of the hill in center to plate both Venable and Orlando Hudson.

Houston, though, got a run back in the home half on Pence's RBI double that sailed deep into left center.

Headley blasted another deep double, this time to left, to lead off the fourth. Brad Hawpe then brought him around on a line-drive single up the middle for a 3-1 lead.

The Astros answered back during the bottom of the inning to tie it up when Chris Johnson lifted a shot over the left field fence to score Carlos Lee, who reached on a one-out single.

Game Notes

Latos was 2-0 against Houston coming into Saturday's start...Hudson went 0- for-3 to snap an 11-game hitting streak in the loss...He did get a walk and has reached base safely in all 14 games this season.