HOUSTON (AP) — Pinch-hitter Joe Inglet had a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and the Houston Astros beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 Saturday night.
With the score tied 3-all, Inglet was batting for reliever Mark Melancon. He hit the first pitch from Chad Qualls for an RBI single. Angel Sanchez also had a run-scoring single in the seventh.
Astros starter Nelson Figueroa settled in after allowing two first inning runs. He went 6 2-3 innings with five strikeouts and two walks.
Melancon (1-0) entered with runners on first and third and got Orlando Hudson to hit a low fly to left but Carlos Lee made a diving catch to end the inning and keep the score tied at 3.
Brandon Lyon got his third save in four chances.
Mat Latos (0-2) pitched 6 1-3 innings for the Padres but after striking out Brett Wallace to start the seventh, he walked the next two batters to set up Inglet's go-ahead hit.
Latos had not allowed a run against the Astros in 16 1-3 innings.
Chase Headley came close to having two homers. He settled for two long doubles in helping the Padres build a 3-1 lead after four innings.
Figueroa allowed two runs in the first inning. Will Vinable reached on second baseman Matt Downs' fielding error and Hudson walked before Headley stroked a long double to the top of the hill in center field.
Headley also doubled to the left field wall in the fourth and scored on Brad Hawpe's single to left field for a 3-1 lead.
Chris Johnson tied it for Houston in the bottom half with his first homer of the year. Lee singled ahead of the home run.
Latos has allowed three homers in two starts this season.
The Astros got one run in the first. Centerfielder Michael Bourn reached on an infield hit, stole his seventh base this season, and scored on Hunter Pence's double between the gap in right-center.
NOTES: Padres outfielder Kyle Blanks is continuing his rehab assignment as a DH with Double-A San Antonio. He went 3 for 6 and scored four runs in Friday's game. Hudson went 0 for 3, ending his 11-game hitting streak. The Padres are eight games into a 20-game stretch without a day off; they won't get a day off until April 28.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
