Astros Vs. Giants Game Recap: Houston Blows Early Lead, Loses to San Francisco 8-4

Despite jumping out to a 4-0 lead in Thursday's game at Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros were unable to hold on, losing to the San Francisco Giants 8-4. The loss was the fifth in a row for the Astros and the club's eleventh loss in the last twelve games.

Houston grabbed two runs in the bottom of the first inning when a Jason Castro double plated Jose Altuve and a Jimmy Paredes single brought home Castro. A Brian Bogusevic sacrifice fly in the second brought home Matt Dominguez to make it 3-0. Tyler Greene's solo home run in the third extended the lead to four runs. From there, San Francisco took over, scoring eight unanswered runs to take control of the game.

Houston starter Jordan Lyles was left out of the decision after five innings of work, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out two. Reliever Fernando Rodriguez took the loss after conceding three earned runs in the seventh inning. Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong picked up the win.

The Astros, now 40-91 on the season, will next try to turn things around in a three-game home series against the division-leading Cincinnati Reds starting Friday evening.

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Astros Vs. Giants: Thursday Lineups

The Houston Astros, who are currently on a four-game skid and have dropped 11 of their last 12 games, will look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.

Former Astro Hunter Pence continued to dominate his former team as he blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall in the Giants' 6-4 win last night. Last night's attendance of 13,027 was the smallest crowd in the history of Minute Maid Ballpark.

Jordan Lyles (3-10, 5.47), who threw six innings of one-run, three-hit baseball in a 3-1 win over the New York Mets in his last start, will take the mound and hope to right the ship for the Astros tonight.

Ryan Vogelsong (11-7, 2.90) will take the hill for the Giants. He has been the unsung hero of a strong Giants staff this season, but he has struggled in the month of August, posting a 6.39 ERA and allowing an .841 opponents OPS.

Houston Astros

1. Jose Altuve (R) 2B
2. Tyler Greene (R) SS
3. Brett Wallace (L) 1B
4. Jason Castro (L) C
5. Jimmy Paredes (S) RF
6. Fernando Martinez (L) LF
7. Matt Dominguez (R) 3B
8. Brian Bogusevic (L) C
9. Jordan Lyles (R) P

San Francisco Giants

1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
7. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
8. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
9. Ryan Vogelsong (R) P

The release of the Astros lineup was delayed a couple of hours as the team checked the status of right fielder Ben Francisco's right wrist. He was held out of action in last last night's game and won't play tonight. Jimmy Paredes will get the nod in right field.

Astros withhold lineup to check out Ben Francisco's right wrist during BP. Milo hates lineup delays. He says Lasorda was the worst at that.

— David Barron (@dfbarron) August 30, 2012

Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. CDT and can be watched for free on MLB.tv.

For more on the Houston Astros, check out Crawfish Boxes. For all things baseball, follow SB Nation's dedicated baseball hub.

Astros Vs. Giants Preview: Houston Tries To Salvage Final Game

The Houston Astros will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants at Minute Maid Park on Thursday night. The struggling Astros have lost 11 of 12 games headed into the series finale with San Francisco.

Jordan Lyles will be sent to the mound for Houston. The righty has a 3-10 record with a 5.47 ERA on the season. He pitched well in his last start, throwing six innings and allowing just one run in a win over the New York Mets.

The Giants will counter with Ryan Vogelsong. The 35-year-old is having a career year with an 11-7 record and 2.90 ERA. Vogelsong has struggled recently, going 1-2 with a 10.50 ERA in his last three starts.

With a 40-90 record, the Astros are the only team in the Major Leagues mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. They will try to play spoiler tonight, as the Giants are clinging to a 3.5 game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

For more on the Astros check out The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston, for everything on the Giants visit McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area.

Astros Vs. Giants Recap: Houston Continues Slump, Falls 6-4

The Houston Astros lost the second game of a three-game series against San Francisco on Wednesday night, falling 6-4 to the Giants at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The loss gives the Astros (40-90) their 11th in the last 12 games.

The Giants (73-57) jumped out in front in the top of the first, posting a four-run inning with the help of a three-run home run by Hunter Pence.

Houston engineered three runs over the next two innings to cut into the lead. Catcher Chris Snyder scored after doubling in the second, while a four-hit third inning resulted in two more runs. But the Giants recovered the padded lead when Joaquin Arias drove home Pence and Pablo Sandoval on a sixth-inning triple.

Despite giving up less hits than his opposing starter, Dallas Keuchel (1-7) took the loss for the Astros due to the four-run first. Barry Zito lasted just 2-1/3 innings after giving up seven hits, with the win going to George Kontos (1-0).

The three-game series concludes tomorrow night as Astros pitcher Jordan Lyles (3-10, 5.47 ERA) faces Ryan Vogelsong (11-7, 2.90 ERA) for the Giants.

For more on the Astros check out The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston, for everything on the Giants visit McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area.

Astros Vs. Giants Score Update: Houston Down 4-3 After 4 Innings

The Houston Astros are looking to rebound on Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants after letting Tuesday's game slip away. After four innings at Minute Maid Park, Houston is down, 4-3.

The Giants took a 4-0 lead in the first inning after an RBI single from Pablo Sandoval and a three-run homer by Hunter Pence. Houston cut into the lead with an RBI single from Brandon Barnes in the second, and an RBI single from Brett Wallace and a sac fly from Jimmy Paredes in the third.

San Francisco starter Barry Zito pitched just 2.1 innings and gave up three runs and seven hits. It's his shortest start since last April, according to the Giants' Twitter account. He was replaced by George Kontos.

Astros starter Dallas Keuchel has given up three hits and four runs through four innings.

For more on the Astros check out The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston. For everything on the Giants, visit McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area.

Astros Vs. Giants Final Score: Houston Blows Lead In 9th, San Francisco Slips By, 3-2

The Houston Astros led the San Francisco Giants heading into the ninth inning but couldn't close the door as the Giants rallied to win, 3-2, on Tuesday night.

The game was tied from the fifth inning onward until right fielder Jimmy Paredes scored Houston's go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth on a wild pitch by Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain.

But the lead wasn't sustained for long. Reliever Wesley Wright entered the top of the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to the only batter he faced, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt. Then, right-hander Wilton Lopez replaced Wright and, facing pinch-hitter Joaquin Arias, surrendered the game-tying double.

After recording a strikeout, pinch-hitting catcher Hector Sanchez singled home San Francisco's eventual winning run off Lopez (L, 5-3), as the Astros went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

Astros left fielder Fernando Martinez belted his second home run of the year in the fifth inning, and Sergio Romo recorded his seventh save of the season for the Giants.

For more on the Astros check out The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston, for everything on the Giants visit McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area.

Astros Vs. Giants: Starting Lineups For Tuesday

The Houston Astros will host the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series starting on Tuesday. Game 1 will be on the advantage for the Giants as Bud Norris faces off against Matt Cain, and the Giants will also have essentially their first choice hitting lineup available excepting the suspended Melky Cabrera.

Here are the starting lineups for Tuesday's opener between the Astros and Giants:

Houston Astros:
1. Jose Altuve 2B
2. Jimmy Paredes RF
3. Brett Wallace 1B
4. Jason Castro C
5. Tyler Greene SS
6. J.D. Martinez LF
7. Marwin Gonzalez 3B
8. Brandon Barnes CF
9. Bud Norris P

San Franciso Giants:
1. Angel Pagan CF
2. Marco Scutaro 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Buster Posey C
5. Hunter Pence RF
6. Brandon Belt 1B
7. Gregor Blanco LF
8. Brandon Crawford SS
9. Matt Cain P

For more on the Astros check out The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston, for everything on the Giants visit McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area.

Astros Vs. Giants: Time, TV, Radio Info And More

The Houston Astros begin a three game series as they host the San Francisco Giants