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  Sunday, Apr. 23 3:05pm ET
For 6-11 Astros, same old story in new home
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

HOUSTON (AP) -- After a weekend with the San Diego Padres, the Houston Astros don't like their new home at Enron Field so much.

Eric Owens' two-run single keyed a four-run eighth inning as San Diego rallied to beat Houston 11-10 on Sunday.

"They look like the '27 Yankees," Houston second baseman Craig Biggio said. "We're just glad they're leaving town."

Owens went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and four RBI as San Diego swept its first series in Houston since 1996. The Astros have lost nine of their last 12, and are 2-7 in Enron Field. The Astros (6-11) are off to their worst start since going 4-13 in 1983.

The Padres, who were 1-8 against Houston last year, have won five of six so far this season and clinched the season series for the first time since 1992.

"They beat our brains out last year," San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said. "It was nice to get some wins here in Houston. To be honest with you, I'm glad to move on. The biggest difference in this ballpark is that you're not out of any game. No lead is safe here."

Al Martin had three hits and three runs scored and Ryan Klesko drove in two runs, including a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning off Billy Wagner (0-1).

"Even with Billy, the way things have been going for us lately I wasn't real confident," Houston manager Larry Dierker said. "We need to start getting people out."

Ken Caminiti went 2-for-3 with two homers and five RBI for Houston. He hit a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the third. He also had a sacrifice fly in Houston's four-run seventh that gave the Astros a 10-7 lead.

Then the Padres rallied in the eighth. Jay Powell walked Chris Gomez to lead off the inning and one out later, Martin singled. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and scored on Owens' single.

"I was trying to do my job, and my job is to get on base and let the guys like Klesko and Nevin, who can drive the ball, drive me in," Owens said. "I was lucky today to hit some balls at the right spot."

Wagner came on and gave up a single to Tony Gwynn, threw a run-scoring wild pitch to tie the game and Klesko's single that put San Diego on top.

"I was trying to throw a fastball up (high) but it got away from me," Wagner said. "That team is much better this year. They don't let you get by with any mistakes."

Matt Whisenant (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win. Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Mitch Meluskey went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI, including a run-scoring double that made it 10-7.

Houston's Scott Elarton, who was activated from the disabled list Saturday, pitched seven innings in his first appearance since Sept. 26, 1999. The right-hander allowed seven runs on 10 hits, walked one and struck out three.

San Diego starter Brian Meadows allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings. He also had a pair of RBI singles.

Game notes
Caminiti has 19 career multihomer games. ... Biggio increased his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games, tying a career high set in 1997. ... There have been 32 homers in nine games at Enron Field. ... Through nine home games the Astros and their opponents have scored 110 runs, an average of 12.2 per game. Through the first nine games at the Astrodome last season the two teams scored 75 runs, an average of 8.3 per game. ... Gwynn has 2,331 career singles, moving past Cap Anson for 10th place on the career list.

 


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