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Astros try to build momentum in San Diego

Jul 17, 2012 - 3:03 PM (Sports Network) - The 13-game road losing streak is history.

Now all the Houston Astros have to do is string together some wins, as they resume a four-game series against the San Diego Padres tonight at Petco Park.

The Astros used a strong pitching performance in Monday's 2-0 win over the Padres and got 6 1/3 scoreless innings out of J.A. Happ. Fernando Rodriguez got the final two outs in the seventh inning before Wilton Lopez and Brett Myers combined for two shutout innings. Myers notched his 19th save, helping the Astros secure their first road win since June 14 at San Francisco.

"I feel like I was definitely hitting the corners pretty good tonight," Happ said afterward.

Jose Altuve had a hit and scored both runs for Houston, which won for just the second time in 15 games overall and are 1-3 on a 10-game road trip. The Astros were riding their longest road skid since a 13-game drought back in 1990 and are 10-35 away from Minute Maid Park this season.

In order to win consecutive road games for the first time since April 25-27 against Milwaukee and Cincinnati, Houston starter Jordan Lyles needs to pitch a lot better than he has lately. Lyles gets the call tonight and is just 1-4 with a 5.18 earned run average in his last six starts.

Lyles pitched well in his latest appearance -- a 5-3 loss to Milwaukee -- and did not figure into the decision. Lyles allowed two runs and six hits, struck out three and walked one in seven innings. He is 2-5 in 11 starts overall to go along with a 5.08 ERA. Lyles recently beat the Padres on June 26 by tossing 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a 5-3 victory and is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA in two career starts against them.

The right-hander is 0-3 in six road starts this season.

San Diego had a two-game winning streak stopped and lost for the fifth time in seven tries last night. Kip Wells was handed the tough-luck loss on the mound and gave up two runs over 4 1/3 innings.

Alexi Amarista led the Padres with a pair of hits.

"We just couldn't seem to barrel enough balls off of him," San Diego manager Bud Black said of the team's offensive struggles against Happ.

Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin was scratched from Monday's game due to a sore right knee and will most likely rest again tonight. Quentin missed the first two months of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a tear in his meniscus in the same knee, and is hitting .266 with eight home runs in 36 games this season.

Ross Ohlendorf draws the start for San Diego tonight and he is 2-0 with a 7.41 earned run average in six games (2 starts) this season. He tossed a scoreless inning of relief in a 6-0 loss to Cincinnati on July 6 the last time out and will face Houston for a second time this season. He allowed five runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings of an 8-7 win on June 25.

Ohlendorf, a right-hander, is 0-6 with a 6.35 ERA in 12 career games, 10 of which have been starts, against Houston.

The Astros lead the 2012 series with San Diego, 3-2, but the Padres have won five of the previous eight meetings between the teams.