David Eckstein broke a scoreless tie by doubling home Tony Gwynn Jr. with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the San Diego Padres to a 3-0 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Friday night.
Eckstein’s clutch double off Astros reliever Brandon Lyon (5-2) made a winner of Mat Latos, who pitched eight shutout innings while improving to 9-4.
Scott Hairston delivered a two-run single later in the inning.
Latos gave up four hits without issuing a walk and struck out seven during a fabulous pitcher’s duel with Houston ace Roy Oswalt.
Heath Bell struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.
Gwynn singled off Lyon with two outs in the eighth and then sped home on Eckstein’s double down the left-field line.
Oswalt tossed seven shutout innings of three-hit ball before exiting for a pinch hitter. He struck out seven and walked two.
Carlos Lee had two of Houston’s four hits.
Houston | San Diego | |
Roy Oswalt | Player | Mat Latos |
No Decision | W/L | Win |
7.0 | IP | 8.0 |
7 | Strikeouts | 7 |
3 | Hits | 4 |
0.00 | ERA | 0.00 |
Houston | San Diego | |
Carlos Lee | Player | Everth Cabrera |
2 | Hits | 1 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 1 |
.667 | Avg | .333 |