The Houston Astros will have to wait another day to pick up their 11th road win of the season. The Astros fell to the Padres 8-4 at PETCO Park, despite the efforts of Matt Downs.
Houston had no answer for Clayton Richard, who pitched 8 and 1/3 innings in the win. Richard allowed nine hits and did not issue a walk, while striking out two Astros. Richard was removed in the ninth inning after allowing a home run to Matt Downs, which cut San Diego's lead down to 8-4.
Nick Vincent pitched a third of an inning while issuing a walk, before Huston Street recorded the save, needing just five pitches to record one out -- a strike out -- and earning the save in the process.
Wandy Rodriguez did Houston's front office no favors, as he pitched just four innings, giving up five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. Rodriguez' contract makes it somewhat difficult to move him to a contender, and his poor performance may sour some clubs -- if they had scouts in attendance.
San Diego got on the board in the fourth inning thanks to a wild pitch by Rodriguez.
The Padres jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Houston after the fifth inning, but Matt Downs did everything he could to lead the Astros to victory. In the top of the sixth, Downs launched a three-run home run to cut the score to 6-3. San Diego, though, would tack on two more runs before Downs hit his second homer of the game in the ninth.
Houston will get another crack at taking down San Diego on Thursday night, as the four-game series comes to an end.
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