Win streak ends at eight as Padres best Astros in series opener

The Astros' win streak was bound to end at some point, but one would figure the team would have liked to end it on a better note.

Missed opportunities to crack the game open and a failure to capitalize with runners in scoring position doomed the Astros to a 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday night, putting an end to their week-long winning streak that spanned eight games.

It was a frustrating night for the Astros right from the get-go. Houston would load the bases in the first inning with two outs after three consecutive hits by George Springer, José Altuve, and Carlos Correa brought home the team's first run early in the game. Taylor Jones would strike out to end the inning, ending what could have been a big rally.

The Astros loaded the bases again in the second inning, this time with only one out. Carlos Correa and Josh Reddick would both strike out and fail to bring a runner across to score. That theme would persist throughout the night -- the team went a pitiful 4-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving eleven men on base on the night.

The issue of poor situational hitting was compounded with Lance McCullers Jr.'s poor start. After giving up a run in the first, McCullers struggled the rest of the night with command, walking two batters and accidentally hitting another two. He would be pulled at the end of the fifth inning, after giving up seven hits and four earned runs over 97 pitches.

Despite the lack of clutch hitting early, Houston kept the game close throughout the evening. Trailing 4-1 after five innings, A Myles Straw double that scored Taylor Jones would cut the lead to two. Kyle Tucker's RBI single in the top of the seventh would have the Astros trailing by only one run with six outs left to work with.

Unfortunately, Houston would fail to add any more runs even with runners reaching in both the eighth and ninth innings, dropping their first game in over a week. Lance McCullers would receive the loss, while Javy Guerra, who came on in relief of Padres' starter Garrett Richards after two innings, got the win. San Diego used six relievers in the contest.

With the loss, Houston moves to 15-11, and maintains their hold over second best in the AL West. Brandon Bielak gets the nod tomorrow evening for the 'Stros, against former Brewer Zach Davies.