San Diego, CA – Clayton Richard pitched into the ninth inning, Yonder Alonso had three RBI, and the Padres defeated the Astros, 8-4, on Wednesday.
Richard (7-10) lasted 8 1/3 frames, allowing four runs on nine hits, including two homers by Matt Downs. He struck out two, did not issue a walk, and snapped a personal two-game losing streak.
"Clayton had a great day," said Padres manager Bud Black. "He set the tone."
Chris Denorfia drove in a pair during a five-run fourth inning for the Padres, who have won four of five overall, including two of three in this four-game series.
Wandy Rodriguez (7-8) took a perfect game into the fourth, where he was charged with five runs on four hits. The lefty was relieved at the start of the fifth, ending his National League-leading streak of 48 consecutive starts of at least five innings.
Downs hit a three-run homer in the sixth and a solo blast in the ninth for the Astros, who have lost 15 of their last 17 games.
"I don't know if I've done that since little league. I've never hit a multi- homer game. It is a great accomplishment, I guess, for me, but still we lost," said Downs.
In addition to his effort on the mound, Richard scored Everth Cabrera with a sixth-inning double off the base of the wall in right-center field.
Alonso had a pair doubles, capping the fourth-inning barrage with a two-run gapper, then scoring Denorfia in the seventh with a line drive into the right field corner.
The Padres loaded the bases to begin the fourth, getting a single from Alexi Ramirez, a walk to Logan Forsythe and an infield hit by Chase Headley, before Rodriguez's wild pitch allowed the runners to advance.
Carlos Quentin then walked, loading the bases again, in front of Denorfia's two-run base hit through the left side of the infield.
An inning later, Headley reached with a two-out single, advanced to third on Enerio Del Rosario's botched pickoff attempt, then scored when Downs' throw across the diamond escaped into left field.
Huston Street recorded the final out of the ninth, stranding a pair, to pick up his 15th save of the season.
Game Notes
Street has made 12 consecutive scoreless appearances and hasn't allowed a run since June 17...Downs hit his sixth and seventh home runs of the season...Rodriguez's five-inning streak was the third-longest active run in the major leagues behind the Yankees' CC Sabathia (76 games) and the Tigers' Justin Verlander (71 games).
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