Brandon Backe had the best start of his injury plagued season as he led the Astros to a much needed road victory in San Diego. Backe went 7 2/3 innings allowing only one run, and the hitters pounded the Padre pitchers for 10 hits and 7 runs as the Astros assured a series win with the victory Wednesday night.
Craig Biggio slammed a pair of home runs and just missed a third, and even stole a base off of rag armed Padres catcher Mike Pizza in leading the Astros. Mike Lamb followed Biggio’s first blast in the 7th inning with one of his own, a shot to straightaway center.
Padres starter Woody Williams kept the bats quiet until the 5th inning. With 2 outs, Ausmus reached on an error by new Pads thirdbaseman Odd Walker, his second throwing error of the game. Backe followed with a sharp single to left for the Astros first hit, and Willy Taveras lined an RBI single just to the left of diving shortstop Khalua Greene to tie the game at one.
The Astros loaded the bases in the 6th with no outs. Preston Wilson hit into another 6-4-3 to score the go ahead run, and Adam Everett followed with a two-out RBI single to push the lead to 3-1.
Two outs in the 7th set the stage for the Biggio and Lamb back to back shots. In the 8th, Luke Scott doubled into the left center gap and scored on a RBI single to center by Wilson. Biggio second dinger came in the 9th to complete the scoring.
Chad Qualls struck out the only batter he faced with 2 on and 2 out in the 8th to squelch a threat. Dave Borkowski mopped up the 9th.
Day game Thursday, 2:30 cst, rookie starting debut of Matt Albers.