HOUSTON (AP) -- The San Francisco Giants are winning and so is Russ Ortiz.

Ortiz struck out a career-high 12 and won for the first time since May 21, leading the Giants over the Houston Astros 4-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

	Russ Ortiz ended a five-start winless streak in the Giants' 4-2 win over the Astros. Ortiz struck out a career-high 12.

Ortiz said a meeting with Baker and pitching coach Dave Righetti after his previous start helped him Sunday.

"I knew things weren't going well, and I knew we weren't winning ballgames when I pitched," Ortiz said. "I knew when I came out of that meeting, that I was going to have to do better. That wasn't a surprise. I've known that for some time."

Ortiz (4-7), winless in five starts since beating Milwaukee 16-10, allowed two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Robb Nen pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 16 chances, retiring Jeff Bagwell on a game-ending grounder with runner at the corners.

"The thing that I'm proud of the last two days was to see maturity in two young pitchers who got in trouble and pitched their way out," Baker said. "Joe (Nathan) yesterday and Russ today. He loaded the bases and then struck out the side. That's pitching."

Marvin Benard went 4-for-5 and Felipe Crespo had three hits, including a two-run single in a four-run third inning. The Giants had 14 hits, one day after getting 22 in a 13-4 rout.

Houston, swept at home for the second time this season, turned six double plays, one short of the major league record. The teams combined for eight double plays, one shy of the NL mark for a nine-inning game.

Chris Holt (3-8) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and 12 hits in seven innings as Houston (26-48), which has the worst record in the major leagues, dropped 22 games under .500 for the first time since Oct. 6, 1991.

"I couldn't make the plays when I needed to, and I couldn't make the pitches when it needed to," Holt said. "It's been that kind of year. The third inning really hurt. We're battling, but we're finding ways to lose the game."

Ortiz started the Giants' third with a walk, Benard singled and Bill Mueller sacrificed, reaching when Holt misplayed his bunt for an error that loaded the bases.

Crespo followed with a two-run single, Ellis Burks hit an RBI single and J.T. Snow doubled in a run.

Crespo was happy to get the hit after he struck out Saturday in the ninth inning against infielder Tim Bogar.

"You can't let one at-bat take you over," Crespo said. "You can't put that much thought into it. It was a blowout and didn't make any difference in the game."

Bagwell homered in the fourth and hit an RBI single in the sixth. Lance Berkman then walked, loading the bases, but Ortiz struck out Daryle Ward, Chris Truby and Tony Eusebio -- giving him 12 strikeouts, one more than he had May 27 against Chicago.

"I don't know how many times we've come up with the bases loaded and nobody out this year and not scored," Astros manager Larry Dierker said. "It's been at least half a dozen, and you could go years without that."

Game notes
Two teams have turned seven double plays in a nine-inning game: Houston against San Francisco on May 4, 1969, and the New York Yankees against the Philadelphia Athletics on Aug. 14, 1942. Atlanta (June 27, 1982) and St. Louis (June 16, 1994) also accomplished the feat in extra-inning games. ... San Diego swept a series at Enron from April 21-23. ... Barry Bonds is 3-for-22 in his last seven games but is hitting .327 with 27 home runs and 53 RBI. ... Craig Biggio's next hit will be No. 1,938, making him the Astros' career leader, a spot held until now by Jose Cruz, currently Houston's first-base coach. ... Bill Spiers left after the third inning after re-aggravating his left hamstring. He is day to day. ... Bagwell's homer was the 124th in Enron Field this season, six more than were at the Astrodome last year.