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GAME LOG
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- With the way the Houston Astros have been
blowing leads, even a two-run cushion provided by Jeff Bagwell's
ninth-inning homer off Trevor Hoffman was no sure thing.
That's because closer Billy Wagner had to escape a bases-loaded
jam for the Astros, who wasted a four-run lead, then beat the San
Diego Padres 7-6 Friday night to stop a 10-game road losing streak.
"We tried as hard as we could to lose this game," manager
Larry Dierker said. "Everyone's pressing. They're trying so hard
they can't relax. To play a close game right now with the sort of
mentality we have is difficult."
Hoffman (0-2) hung an 0-2 pitch that Bagwell drove over the
fence in left-center field for his 15th homer and a 7-5 lead. It
was the second time in eight appearance Hoffman allowed a
game-winning home run. Rookie Julio Lugo was aboard on his third
hit, an infield single.
"Basically you're lucky anytime you get even a hit off Hoffman,
so you've really done well when you hit a home run," Bagwell said.
"That was a very big bonus for myself and the ballclub."
Hoffman started off Bagwell with two changeups, then threw a
fastball.
"I was trying to come in and knock him off the plate," Hoffman
said. "I left it right out over the plate a little bit and he
crushed it."
Wagner (2-3) had his seventh blown save in 12 chances but got
the win. He walked the bases loaded in the ninth, then gave up a
one-out RBI single to Tony Gwynn before striking out Phil Nevin and
retiring Ryan Klesko on a game-ending foulout to third. Klesko had
three doubles in the game.
Wagner threw 46 pitches in 1 2/3 innings.
The Padres, who trailed 4-0 and 5-3, tied the game at 5 with two
runs in the eighth, but ended up losing their fifth straight and
for the sixth time in seven games.
Lugo went 3-for-4, drove in three runs, scored once and stole
two bases. Lugo, who made his major league debut as a pinch-runner
on April 15 at San Diego, hit a two-run single in the second inning
and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. In the sixth, he singled, stole
second and third and scored on Carlos Almanzar's wild pitch.
Up with the Astros for the second time this season, Lugo was
making just his sixth start at shortstop, where he made a diving
catch of Gwynn's liner in the fourth.
The Padres trailed 5-3 going into the eighth. Al Martin, who
finished 3-for-4 with a homer, doubled off Jay Powell and took
third on Gwynn's groundout. Nevin hit a chopper that third baseman Ken Caminiti couldn't get a handle on, allowing Martin to score and
Nevin to reach on an infield single.
Wagner came on and Klesko doubled into the gap in left-center
field to score Nevin from first. Klesko took third on Bret Boone's
fly out but the rally ended when Carlos Hernandez flied out to
center.
Dierker said that even he seems to be pressing.
"Jay was upset that I didn't leave him in to face Klesko,"
Dierker said. "I shouldn't be worrying about bringing in Billy in
the eighth. It's all of us."
Moises Alou had his 1,000th career hit, a double into the left
field corner in the third inning.
Astros starter Octavio Dotel got a no-decision despite being
given a 4-0 lead. He allowed three runs and six hits in six
innings.
Houston took a 4-0 lead after four innings against Stan Spencer
(2-2). Lugo's two-out, two-run single highlighted the three-run
second inning, and he hit his sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Martin homered leading off the fourth as the Padres began to
close the gap. Gwynn hit an RBI single in the sixth and scored on
Klesko's two-out double into the left-center field gap. Alou's
throw was way off the mark and almost went into the Padres' dugout,
allowing Klesko to take third.
Spencer allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings, walked
five and struck out none.
Game notes
RHP Carlos Reyes began his third stint with the Padres when
his contract was purchased from Triple-A Las Vegas. To make room on
the 40-man roster, the Padres transferred LHP Sterling Hitchcock
from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. To make room on the
25-man roster, right-hander Domingo Guzman was optioned to Las
Vegas. ... Until this season, the Astros had won the season series
against the Expos every year since 1992. The Padres clinched the
2000 season series by sweeping the Astros in Houston in April. ...
Astros RHP Scott Elarton, scheduled to start Saturday night, has no
decisions and a 5.27 ERA in four career appearances against San
Diego. He will make his second start against San Diego this season
and the third in his career.
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