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Padres get 3rd straight win over Astros

Jun 6, 2011 - 4:41 AM an Diego, CA (Sports Network) - A three-run first inning, highlighted by Jason Bartlett's RBI triple, put San Diego ahead early and the Padres went on to beat the Houston Astros, 7-2, in the finale of a four-game set at Petco Park.

Bartlett finished with three hits and two runs scored for San Diego, which took the final three games after dropping Thursday's series opener.

Padres starter Mat Latos (4-6) allowed two runs, six hits and two walks in five innings. Four relievers combined to limit Houston to three hits the rest of the way.

San Diego manager Bud Black likes what he's seen from his team lately.

"I'm seeing the defense tighten up a little bit, I'm seeing us swinging the bats much better. The starting pitching has bounced back, our bullpen has remained constant. When those things occur, you're going to have success," he said.

Houston's Jordan Lyles (0-1), making his second career start, yielded four runs on five hits over four innings to take the loss.

"They made me pay for my mistakes," said Lyles. "On top of that, I didn't really feel good throwing the ball over the plate."

Trailing by two runs, the Astros put men on the corners in the seventh. But Chad Qualls escaped the jam by striking out Hunter Pence and retiring Carlos Lee on a fly ball to left field.

San Diego loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and Alberto Gonzalez delivered a two-out, two-run single off Houston's Wilton Lopez to make it a 6-2 game.

The Padres picked up another run in the eighth on a passed ball by Mark Melancon.

The game could not have gotten off to a worse start for Lyles. The 20-year-old gave up a leadoff single to Chris Denorfia and Bartlett found the gap in left- center. Lyle then hit Ryan Ludwick on a pitch that would've been ball four before Brad Hawpe stroked an RBI single. A third run scored on a fielder's choice by Aaron Cunningham.

After Lee singled home Michael Bourn in the third, San Diego third baseman Chase Headley extended his career-high hitting streak to 15 games with a run- scoring double in the bottom of the frame.

Pence stroked an RBI single in the fifth, trimming Houston's deficit to 4-2.

Game Notes

San Diego has now won eight of its last 11 games...The Astros finished 4-3 on their seven-game road trip...Pence extended his hitting streak to a personal best 17 games...Lyles is the youngest active player in the majors.