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Astros down Giants in extras

Aug 29, 2011 - 5:09 AM San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Matt Downs drove in the game-winning run in the 11th inning, lifting the Astros over the Giants, 4-3, to earn a four- game series split.

Mark Melancon blew a chance to finish off the win in the bottom of the 10th, and rookie David Carpenter plunked the leadoff hitter in the 11th before retiring three straight to earn his first career save.

Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 and drove in a run for the Giants, who were trying to win three in a row for the first time since July 17-19.

San Francisco fell four games behind NL West-leading Arizona.

"Plenty of games left. We're not even in September yet," said Giants second baseman Jeff Keppinger. "We just got to keep battling."

Jason Michaels doubled in Jimmy Paredes as a pinch-hitter in the 10th to break a 2-2 tie, but Melancon couldn't hold the lead in the bottom half.

Andres Torres, fresh off the disabled list, singled with one out, stole second and scored on Mark DeRosa's single to right.

DeRosa was thrown out trying to get into scoring position, and Giants manager Bruce Bochy was ejected by second base umpire Dan Bellino after arguing DeRosa got back to the bag before the tag was applied. The call proved pivotal because Carlos Beltran followed with another base hit.

Melancon (7-4) eventually stranded Beltran on second, and Houston regained the lead in its next turn when Downs trailed Jose Altuve's one-out double with a run-scoring single to center off Ramon Ramirez (2-3).

Carpenter recovered from a hit-batsman in the home half to finish off Houston's 2-5 road trip.

Neither starter factored in the decision despite only giving up two runs apiece. Houston's Bud Norris struck out 10 in seven innings of three-hit ball, while Matt Cain scattered five hits and a walk in eight frames.

"[Norris] didn't want to come out of the game. That's how good he was throwing," said Houston manager Brad Mills.

Houston opened the scoring in the fourth as J.D. Martinez's sacrifice fly plated Jordan Schafer.

Norris was cruising until a one-out walk and single gave the Giants life in the seventh. Huff knocked in Pablo Sandoval with a single directly down the right-field line, and Brandon Belt raced in with the go-ahead run on Orlando Cabrera's sac fly.

Cain was trying to get through the eighth with runners on first and second and two outs, but Schafer singled to right to bring in Paredes for a 2-2 game.

Game Notes

San Francisco has not won a home series since taking two of three from the Brewers from July 22-24...The Giants were out-hit in all four games of the series...Astros first baseman Carlos Lee went 3-for-4 but twisted his ankle sliding into second in the ninth inning. He was pulled for a pinch-runner... Torres (leg) and Giants reliever Sergio Romo (elbow) both came off the DL before the game. Romo gave up a hit and struck out two in the ninth.