Padres 8, Astros 6
Will Venable drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a two-run single to spark a four-run eighth inning as the San Diego Padres rallied for an 8-6 victory over the host Houston Astros on Sunday.
Jorge Cantu smacked a two-run homer and drove in three runs and Nick Hundley added his third of the season as the Padres salvaged a split of the four-game series.
Jason Bartlett went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Chase Headley and Cameron Maybin added two hits apiece to deny Houston its first series win of the year.
Padres relievers Ernesto Frieri (1-1) and Mike Adams bridged the gap to closer Heath Bell, who escaped a bases-loaded jam to secure his fourth save of the season and 38th in a row dating to last year.
Carlos Lee and Bill Hall drove in two runs apiece for the Astros, who squandered a pair of three-run leads. Mark Melancon (1-1) was charged with four runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Padres starter Clayton Richard allowed six runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Astros ace Brett Myers struggled through six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits.