Astros fold late, Padres complete sweep

Baseball is a fickle sport -- heading into San Diego on Friday, Houston was riding an eight game winning streak, and producing runs at a high clip (6 runs averaged during the streak), as well as closing out games quickly and effectively with strong starting and relief pitching.

Now, however, the Astros will limp back to Minute Maid Park after losing 5-3 to the Padres on Saturday afternoon, becoming the victims of a red-hot San Diego team that has won seven straight games and swept two teams in a row.

The Astros got off to a strong start for the third time in three games, and this time they capitalized with runners on base. After an RBI single by Carlos Correa, Kyle tucker stroked a two-run opposite field home run to help Houston jump out to a quick 3-0 lead.

But, once again, Houston would fail to threaten after the early innings, as they were unable to convert any meaningful threats after the first inning. The Astros went 0-4 with runners in scoring position for the remaining eight innings, and were shut down by a Padres bullpen that had struggled mightily heading into this series. San Diego retired the final 14 Astros in order.

Staff ace Zack Greinke did what he could, but even he couldn't entirely quell the scorching Padre hitters. After not allowing a hit in the first three innings, San Diego burned Greinke for a three run inning that knotted the game in the fourth inning. Greinke would hold the tie the rest of the way, ending his day with his fourth quality start of the year (6 IP, four hits, three earned runs, two walks, four strikeouts).

The stalemate would hold until a Manny Machado two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning all but sealed Houston's fate. A 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning would slam the door on the Astros and the series.

Houston drops to 15-13 with the loss, but maintains their hold over the second spot in the AL West thanks in part to the Texas Rangers' recent collapse. Framber Valdez, who has the best ERA among the starters, gets the nod to kick off a seven-game home stand with a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels tomorrow evening.