GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: SAN DIEGO (54-47) at HOUSTON (45-57)

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY JOE THATCHER ALLOWED CARLOS LEE AND MIKE LAMB TO
SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B AUSMUS ON FIRST, L SCOTT ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: SAN DIEGO 9
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: O PALMEIRO (.243, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Ensberg hit for O Palmeiro.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B AUSMUS ON FIRST, L SCOTT ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: SAN DIEGO 9
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M Ensberg (.229, 8 HR, 30 RBI)</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
SDG: HEATH BELL (4-2, 2.06) IN THE 9TH
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B AUSMUS ON FIRST, L SCOTT ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: SAN DIEGO 9, HOUSTON 3

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M ENSBERG (.229, 8 HR, 30 RBI)</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: H Bell relieved J Thatcher.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B AUSMUS ON FIRST, L SCOTT ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: SAN DIEGO 9
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M Ensberg (.229, 8 HR, 30 RBI)</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MORGAN ENSBERG SCORED LUKE SCOTT.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M ENSBERG ON FIRST, B AUSMUS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: SAN DIEGO 9
HOUSTON 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.252, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
SAN DIEGO 0 2 1 0 0 2 0 3 1 9 12 2
HOUSTON 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 8 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: SDG - JAKE PEAVY, CLA MEREDITH (8TH), JOE THATCHER (9TH), HEATH BELL
(9TH) AND JOSH BARD

HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS, TREVER MILLER (7TH), DAVE
BORKOWSKI (8TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

HOME RUNS: SDG - MILTON BRADLEY (4) OFF WOODY WILLIAMS IN THE 3RD, 0 ON

HOU - NONE</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
SAN DIEGO 0 2 1 0 0 2 0 3 1 9 12 2
HOUSTON 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 8 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: SDG - JAKE PEAVY, CLA MEREDITH (8TH), JOE THATCHER (9TH), HEATH BELL
(9TH) AND JOSH BARD

HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS, TREVER MILLER (7TH), DAVE
BORKOWSKI (8TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS


WP - JAKE PEAVY (10-5)
LP - WOODY WILLIAMS (5-12)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: SDG - MILTON BRADLEY (4) OFF WOODY WILLIAMS IN THE 3RD, 0 ON

HOU - NONE


TIME: 2:54 ATT: 39,996

PROBABLES: SDG - GREG MADDUX (7-7, 4.19)
HOU - ROY OSWALT (9-6, 3.80)</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">SAN DIEGO (9) VS HOUSTON (4) - FINAL

SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 5 0 2 3 0 2 1 .297
M Cameron cf 5 0 0 0 0 3 3 .250
M Bradley lf 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 .333
A Gonzalez 1b 5 2 2 0 0 1 1 .268
K Greene ss 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .232
J Bard c 4 1 2 0 1 0 0 .268
K Kouzmanoff 3b 4 2 1 1 0 0 2 .230
G Blum 2b 2 2 1 2 1 0 1 .244
J Peavy p 3 0 2 1 0 0 1 .220
a-J Cruz Jr ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .236
C Meredith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Thatcher p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
H Bell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 36 9 12 9 4 7 11

a-walked for J Peavy in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - J Bard (14, W Williams); K Greene (25, D Borkowski); A Gonzalez
(31, D Borkowski). HR - M Bradley (4, 3rd inning off W Williams 0 on, 1 Out).
SF - G Blum , K Greene. RBI - J Peavy (5), B Giles 3 (21), M Bradley (10), K
Kouzmanoff (41), G Blum 2 (14), K Greene (55). 2-out RBI - J Peavy, B Giles 3,
G Blum. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cameron 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - J Thatcher 2 (2, throw 2). DP: 2 (G Blum-K Greene-A Gonzalez
2).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 5 0 1 0 0 2 2 .251
M Loretta ss 5 1 2 0 0 1 2 .298
L Berkman 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .260
C Lee lf 4 1 3 1 0 1 0 .297
M Lamb 3b 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .301
L Scott rf-cf 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .231
J Lane cf 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .170
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-C Burke ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .223
B Ausmus c 4 0 0 1 0 2 1 .240
W Williams p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .095
T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
O Palmeiro rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
b-M Ensberg ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .232

Totals 35 4 8 3 3 9 16

a-flied out to left for D Borkowski in the 9th; b-singled to center for O
Palmeiro in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (27, J Peavy). RBI - C Lee (84), B Ausmus (20), M Ensberg
(31). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1, M Loretta 2, L Scott
1. GIDP - L Scott, L Berkman. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Ausmus (5, 2nd base off H Bell/J Bard).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - L Scott (J Peavy at 3rd base). PB - B Ausmus.


----------------------------------------------------
SAN DIEGO - 021 002 031 -- 9
HOUSTON - 100 000 003 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Peavy (W, 10-5) 7 4 1 1 2 8 0 2.41
C Meredith 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.47
J Thatcher 1/3 1 3 0 1 0 0 0.00
H Bell 2/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.04

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Williams (L, 5-12) 6 8 5 5 2 4 1 5.14
T Miller 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.46
D Borkowski 1 2/3 4 4 3 2 2 0 4.96

WP - H Bell. IBB - J Bard (by D Borkowski). Pitches-strikes: J Peavy 111-77;
C Meredith 9-7; J Thatcher 21-12; H Bell 13-6; W Williams 110-73; T Miller
13-10; D Borkowski 47-26. Ground balls-fly balls: J Peavy 9-4; C Meredith 3-0;
J Thatcher 0-1; H Bell 0-1; W Williams 5-8; T Miller 2-1; D Borkowski 2-1.
Batters faced: J Peavy 26; C Meredith 4; J Thatcher 5; H Bell 3; W Williams 27;
T Miller 4; D Borkowski 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

T--2:54. Att--39,996.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

Peavy pitches Padres past Astros

<h3>SAN DIEGO 9, HOUSTON 4</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- San Diego Padres righthander Jake Peavy,who hadn't won since June 19, finally earned his 10th win of theseason Friday night against the Houston Astros.


After four losses and a no-decision in his last five starts,Peavy pitched seven innings, limiting the Astros to four hitsand one run in a 9-4 victory.


Peavy had a skimpy 1.17 ERA for his previous three outingsagainst the Astros and did not allow a hit in this one untilCarlos Lee doubled in the fourth.


Houston touched him for its only run in the first inning withthree consecutive singles, Lee driving in his 84th run of theseason.


Peavy (10-5) had received just five runs of support in thoselast five starts. He made sure that didn't happen again Friday.He singled in San Diego's first run in the second inning offWoody Williams, his former teammate, and Brian Giles followedwith another single to make it 2-1 Padres.


Peavy, who also singled in the fifth inning, struck out eightand walked two, throwing 111 pitches.


Milton Bradley, acquired June 29 from Oakland, hit his fourthhomer as a Padre to lead off the third inning to give San Diegoa two-run lead. It was the 23rd homer allowed by Williams thisseason, most in the National League. Williams (5-12) had pitchedhis best game of the season last Sunday, when he shut out<div class="pre">Pittsburgh for eight innings in a 1-0 win. Williams had been</div>4-0 lifetime with a 2.25 ERA against the Padres before Friday.

He worked six innings Friday, allowing five runs on eight hits,striking out four and walking two.


The Padres added two runs in the sixth on a single by AdrianGonzalez, a double by Josh Bard, a bloop single by rookie KevinKouzmanoff that scored Gonzalez and a sacrifice fly by GeoffBlum, a former Astro.


Blum drove in two runs and scored one and Giles drove in three.

Houston's Craig Biggio reached on an infield single in theeighth, the 3,020th hit of his career, tying Rafael Palmeiro for23rd on the all-time list.

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
SAN DIEGO 9
HOUSTON 4 FINAL</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAN DIEGO (9) AT HOUSTON (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio grounded out to shortstop. M Loretta singled to
right. L Berkman singled to right, M Loretta to second. C Lee singled to
right, M Loretta scored, L Berkman to third. M Lamb struck out swinging.
L Scott struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 0, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 2ND: K Greene grounded out to shortstop. J Bard singled to left.
K Kouzmanoff grounded into fielder's choice to third, J Bard out at second.
G Blum walked, K Kouzmanoff to second. J Peavy singled to center, K Kouzmanoff
scored, G Blum to third. B Giles singled to right, G Blum scored, J Peavy out
at third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 2, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 3RD: M Cameron grounded out to shortstop. M Bradley homered to
right. A Gonzalez fouled out to third. K Greene fouled out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 3, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 6TH: A Gonzalez singled to right. K Greene popped out to first.
J Bard doubled to left, A Gonzalez to third. K Kouzmanoff reached on infield
single to first, A Gonzalez scored, J Bard to third. G Blum hit sacrifice fly
to center, J Bard scored. J Peavy grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 5, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 8TH: A Gonzalez struck out swinging. L Scott in center field.
D Borkowski relieved T Miller. O Palmeiro in right field. K Greene doubled to
left. J Bard intentionally walked. K Kouzmanoff grounded into fielder's
choice to pitcher, J Bard out at second, K Greene to third. G Blum singled to
center, K Greene scored, K Kouzmanoff to third. J Cruz Jr hit for J Peavy.
J Cruz Jr walked, G Blum to second. B Giles singled to center, K Kouzmanoff and
G Blum scored, J Cruz Jr to third. M Cameron struck out swinging. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 8, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 9TH: M Bradley struck out swinging. A Gonzalez doubled to deep
center. A Gonzalez to third on passed ball by B Ausmus. K Greene hit sacrifice
fly to center, A Gonzalez scored. J Bard grounded out to second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 9, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: J Thatcher relieved C Meredith. C Lee singled to left. M Lamb
safe at second on throwing error by pitcher J Thatcher, C Lee to third.
L Scott walked. C Burke hit for D Borkowski. C Burke flied out to left.
B Ausmus safe at first on throwing error by pitcher J Thatcher, C Lee and M Lamb
scored, L Scott to third. M Ensberg hit for O Palmeiro. H Bell relieved
J Thatcher. B Ausmus stole second. M Ensberg singled to center, L Scott scored,
B Ausmus to third. M Ensberg to second on wild pitch by H Bell. C Biggio struck
out looking. M Loretta flied out to right. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors)
SAN DIEGO 9, HOUSTON 4.</div>

 

NL: SAN DIEGO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAN DIEGO (9) AT HOUSTON (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

San Diego Starting Lineups -- B Giles RF, M Cameron CF, M Bradley LF,
A Gonzalez 1B, K Greene SS, J Bard C, K Kouzmanoff 3B, G Blum 2B, J Peavy RHP.

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, M Loretta SS, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
M Lamb 3B, L Scott RF, J Lane CF, B Ausmus C, W Williams RHP.

Umpires -- Gary Cederstrom (HP), Jim Reynolds (1B), Tim Welke (2B),
Lance Barksdale (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


SAN DIEGO 1ST: B Giles struck out swinging. M Cameron struck out looking.
M Bradley walked. A Gonzalez lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio grounded out to shortstop. M Loretta singled to
right. L Berkman singled to right, M Loretta to second. C Lee singled to
right, M Loretta scored, L Berkman to third. M Lamb struck out swinging.
L Scott struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 0, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 2ND: K Greene grounded out to shortstop. J Bard singled to left.
K Kouzmanoff grounded into fielder's choice to third, J Bard out at second.
G Blum walked, K Kouzmanoff to second. J Peavy singled to center, K Kouzmanoff
scored, G Blum to third. B Giles singled to right, G Blum scored, J Peavy out
at third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 2, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 2ND: J Lane flied out to center. B Ausmus struck out swinging.
W Williams grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 2,
HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 3RD: M Cameron grounded out to shortstop. M Bradley homered to
right. A Gonzalez fouled out to third. K Greene fouled out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 3, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 3RD: C Biggio struck out swinging. M Loretta struck out swinging.
L Berkman flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 3, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 4TH: J Bard grounded out to second. K Kouzmanoff flied out to
right. G Blum flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 3,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 4TH: C Lee doubled to left. M Lamb walked. L Scott grounded into
double play, second to shortstop to first, M Lamb out at second, C Lee to
third. J Lane grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 3,
HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 5TH: J Peavy singled to right. B Giles struck out looking.
M Cameron struck out looking. M Bradley flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 3, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: B Ausmus struck out swinging. W Williams struck out swinging.
C Biggio grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 3,
HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 6TH: A Gonzalez singled to right. K Greene popped out to first.
J Bard doubled to left, A Gonzalez to third. K Kouzmanoff reached on infield
single to first, A Gonzalez scored, J Bard to third. G Blum hit sacrifice fly
to center, J Bard scored. J Peavy grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 5, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: M Loretta grounded out to first. L Berkman grounded out to
shortstop. C Lee struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 5,
HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 7TH: T Miller relieved W Williams. B Giles grounded out to
second. M Cameron grounded out to second. M Bradley flied out to left.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 5, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: M Lamb flied out to center. L Scott flied out to center.
J Lane walked. B Ausmus grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Lane out
at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 5, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 8TH: A Gonzalez struck out swinging. L Scott in center field.
D Borkowski relieved T Miller. O Palmeiro in right field. K Greene doubled to
left. J Bard intentionally walked. K Kouzmanoff grounded into fielder's
choice to pitcher, J Bard out at second, K Greene to third. G Blum singled to
center, K Greene scored, K Kouzmanoff to third. J Cruz Jr hit for J Peavy.
J Cruz Jr walked, G Blum to second. B Giles singled to center, K Kouzmanoff and
G Blum scored, J Cruz Jr to third. M Cameron struck out swinging. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 8, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 8TH: C Meredith relieved J Peavy. O Palmeiro grounded out to
second. C Biggio reached on infield single to second. M Loretta singled to
right, C Biggio to second. L Berkman grounded into double play, second to
shortstop to first, M Loretta out at second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
SAN DIEGO 8, HOUSTON 1.

SAN DIEGO 9TH: M Bradley struck out swinging. A Gonzalez doubled to deep
center. A Gonzalez to third on passed ball by B Ausmus. K Greene hit sacrifice
fly to center, A Gonzalez scored. J Bard grounded out to second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 9, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: J Thatcher relieved C Meredith. C Lee singled to left. M Lamb
safe at second on throwing error by pitcher J Thatcher, C Lee to third.
L Scott walked. C Burke hit for D Borkowski. C Burke flied out to left.
B Ausmus safe at first on throwing error by pitcher J Thatcher, C Lee and M Lamb
scored, L Scott to third. M Ensberg hit for O Palmeiro. H Bell relieved
J Thatcher. B Ausmus stole second. M Ensberg singled to center, L Scott scored,
B Ausmus to third. M Ensberg to second on wild pitch by H Bell. C Biggio struck
out looking. M Loretta flied out to right. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors)
SAN DIEGO 9, HOUSTON 4.</div>

 

Peavy pitches Padres past Astros

<h3>SAN DIEGO 9, HOUSTON 4</h3>By Gene Duffey
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


HOUSTON (Ticker) - San Diego Padres righthander Jake Peavy, whohadn't won since June 19, finally earned his 10th win of theseason Friday night against the Houston Astros.


After four losses and a no-decision in his last five starts,Peavy pitched seven innings, limiting the Astros to four hitsand one run in a 9-4 victory.


Peavy had a skimpy 1.17 ERA for his previous three outingsagainst the Astros and did not allow a hit in this one untilCarlos Lee doubled in the fourth.


"Jake and Darren (Balsley, the pitching coach) worked on acouple mechanical adjustments," San Diego manager Bud Blacksaid. "He stayed a little taller over the rubber, and thatcreated a better angle with a little more of a downhill plane.His sinker had a little more sink to it."


Houston touched Peavy for a run in the first inning with threeconsecutive singles, Lee driving in his 84th run of the season.

"The first inning was key," Black said of Peavy giving up onlyone run. "His confidence sort of soared (after that)."

With one out and runners on first and third, Peavy struck outMike Lamb and Luke Scott to escape the inning.


"It was big being able to strike out Lamb there," Peavy said."He's a good hitter.


"It made a big difference throwing the ball down hill," Peavysaid of the mechanical adjustment. "I just needed to stayconscious of it. Stay behind and on top of the ball. It was along wait (for that 10th win). I've been upset my team's beenlosing on that fifth day. Three of those four losses werequality starts. I didn't feel like I was getting it handed tome."


Peavy retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced, walking JasonLane with outs in the seventh.


"With those good guys if you don't break through early, you'regoing to let them get into a groove," Houston manager PhilGarner said. "That's what he did, and he just got stronger."

Peavy (10-5) had received just five runs of support in thoselast five starts. He made sure that didn't happen again Friday.He singled in San Diego's first run in the second inning offWoody Williams, his former teammate and Brian Giles followedwith another single to make it 2-1 Padres.


"That was a big turning point for me, to have a good at-bat,"Peavy said of the first of his two singles in the game. "I gotlucky and got a single."


"You know when you get a few runs, you feel pretty confidentwith him on the mound," added Giles.


Peavy struck out eight and walked two, throwing 111 pitches.

"He just had a good effort all night," Black said. "He workedpretty hard."


Milton Bradley, acquired June 29 from Oakland, hit his fourthhomer as a Padre to lead off the third inning to give San Diegoa two-run lead. It was the 23rd homer allowed by Williams thisseason, most in the National League.


Williams (5-12) had pitched his best game of the season last<div class="pre">Sunday, when he shut out Pittsburgh for eight innings in a 1-0</div>win. Williams had been 4-0 lifetime with a 2.25 ERA against thePadres before Friday.


He worked six innings Friday, allowing five runs on eight hits,striking out four and walking two.


"I think I should have only given up one run tonight," Williamssaid. "I feel my performance was a little better than theoutcome. I know early in the season I wasn't at my best, buttonight didn't bounce my way."


Padres catcher Josh Bard, Williams' former battery mate, agreed.

"We didn't hit many balls hard (off him)," Bard said. "We werevery fortunate. We could have scored (only) one run. It'salways hard (facing him), because Woody's one of the top fiveteammates I've had."


The Padres added two runs in the sixth on a single by AdrianGonzalez, a double by Bard, a bloop single by rookie KevinKouzmanoff that scored Gonzalez and a sacrifice fly by GeoffBlum, a former Astro.


"It was good to see from the offensive standpoint to get somehits with runners in scoring position," Black said. "We got sometwo-out hits, which is something we hadn't done lately."

Blum drove in two runs and scored one and Giles drove in three.

"Blum's been playing very well since the All-Star break," Blacksaid. "He's been getting on base and he's a solid defender."

Houston's Craig Biggio reached on an infield single in theeighth, the 3,020th hit of his career, tying Rafael Palmeiro for23rd on the all-time list.