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Astros try to stay hot in San Diego

Jun 3, 2011 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros take aim at their fifth straight win this evening when they continue a four-game series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Houston improved to 4-0 on its current seven-game road trip in Thursday's opener, as Chris Johnson hit a solo homer, drove in two runs and scored twice, propelling the Astros to a 7-4 win.

Carlos Lee, J.R. Towles, Brett Wallace and starter Bud Norris each drove in a run for the Astros, who have won the first four games of a seven-game road trip and have won five straight on the road overall.

A win tonight would give Houston its first six-game road tear since July 18-22, 2005.

Norris (3-4) gave up four runs on six hits over six-plus innings, but picked the win. He also struck out six and walked two.

"The guys did a great job getting some runs early to put the pressure on them," said Norris.

Chase Headley went 1-for-3 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 12 games for the Padres, who have lost two in a row on the heels of a four-game losing streak.

Tim Stauffer (1-4), who turned 29 on Thursday, allowed seven runs -- five earned -- on eight hits over five full frames. He also struck out four and walked two in the loss.

Getting the call for the Astros this evening will be left-hander J.A. Happ, who is 3-6 with a 4.66 ERA. Happ did not get a decision on Sunday against Arizona, despite a terrific outing that saw him allow just a run and two hits in six innings. He also struck out eight, but remained winless in his last three starts (0-2).

Happ lost to the Padres back on April 15 and is 1-1 in three games (two starts) against them with a 2.12 ERA.

San Diego, meanwhile, will counter with righty Dustin Moseley, who is a mere 1-6 on the season with a 3.18 ERA. Moseley did not factor in the decision of his team's win on Sunday in Washington, but pitched well enough to get a win, as he yielded three runs (two earned) and six hits in five innings.

Run support has plagued Moseley all season, as the Padres manage just 2.08 runs-per-game in his starts, with him surrendering two earned runs or less in eight of his 11 appearances this season.

"I would rather give up a couple [runs] every night if it meant we could win a ballgame. That's for sure," Moseley said. "Winning ... it's what we're here for. For me to say I'm satisfied with me doing well, that's not it at all."

Moseley lost to the Astros earlier in the year and is 0-2 in two games (one start) against them with a 3.52 ERA.

Houston has won three of its five matchups with San Diego this season, but the Padres have won five of the last eight matchups overall.