The Padres were able to split the series against Houston in the first four games of their seven game road trip. They looked like a different team daily, alternating losses and wins.

Dustin Mosely lost yet again in spite of superb pitching as the Pads were shutout for his third straight start of this young season.

Aaron Harang pitched kept up his dominance in game two of the series and “The Penitentiary” of Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams, and Heath Bell closed out the game for only the second time this year, the other during the home opener April 5^th in San Diego.

Game three saw the Padres unable to hold a lead while game four the offense came alive for a big and much needed win. The team left for Chicago after the game to begin a three game series in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

April 14^th, 2011, Astros 1, Padres 0

WP Bud Norris (1-1) 6IP 2H 0R 0ER 3BB 7K 0HR

LP Dustin Mosley (0-3) 6.2IP 7H 1R 1ER 2BB 1K 0HR

S Brandon Lyon (2) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 0K 0HR

Dustin Mosely pitched magnificently for six and two thirds of an inning, surrendering only one run to lower his ERA to 1.83 a game. And for this he was rewarded with his third loss of the season. San Diego has failed to score a run in all three of his starts.

Former friar Humberto Quintero led off the sixth with a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Bud Norris. Michael Bourn then drove a single to centerfield, scoring Quintero for the only run of the game.

Norris pitched six strong innings for Houston, striking out seven Padres. He allowed two hits and three walks.

Brandon Lyon pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the season.

April 15^th, 2011 Padres 4, Astros 2

WP Aaron Harang (3-0) 6IP 3H 1R 1ER 1BB 8K 0HR

LP J.A. Happ (1-2) 7IP 7H 4R 4ER 2BB 3K 1HR

S Heath Bell (3) 1IP 2H 1R 1ER 0BB 0K 0HR

The Padres offense came alive to score four runs a day after being shutout to win 4-2 at Minute Maid Park.

Aaron Harang continued his revival winning his third straight game to start the 2011 season. He struck out eight Astros and impressively walked just one.

Chris Denorfia opened the scoring when he launched his first round-tripper of the season off J.A. Happ to lead off the fifth inning.

Michael Bourn scored to tie the game on a two out double by Hunter Pence. Bourn reached base on a bunt single and stole second before Pence batted him in.

The Padres broke it open with a three run seventh. Ryan Ludwick got his first hit of the season with runners in scoring position when he hit a line drive just above the glove of the leaping Angel Sanchez scoring Denorfia and Nick Hundley.

Ludwick scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Eric Patterson. Ludwick was hitting .093 before the hit in his first game since being dropped to 7^th in the batting order.

Heath Bell overcame two singles to start the ninth to go and collect his third save of the season.

April 16^th, 2011 Astros 5, Padres 3

WP Mark Melacon (1-0) 0.1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 0K 0HR

LP Mat Latos (0-2) 6.1IP 4H 5R 5ER 2BB 6K 1HR

S Brandon Lyon (3) 1IP 2H 0R 0ER 0BB 0K 0HR

Mat Latos was spotted a two run lead for the second consecutive start but was unable to hold the lead as he lost his second game of the year.

The Padres jumped ahead early when Chase Headley doubled to bring in Will Venable and Orlando Hudson.

Hunter Pence got a run back in the last half of the first with an RBI double of his own, scoring Michael Bourn.

Brad Hawpe got a rare RBI when he singled in Headley in the top of the fourth. Hawpe went 1-4 and raised his average to .143.

Third baseman Chris Johnson clobbered a pitch by Latos into the last row of the left field stands with a runner on to tie the game, 3-3. Mat remained in the game and settled down retiring eight straight before walking two Astros with one out in the seventh.

Bud Black brought in Chad Qualls to face Joe Inglett. Inglett hit the first pitch he saw to left center scoring the go ahead run. Angel Sanchez also had a run scoring single to put the Astros up 5-3.

April 17^th, 2011 Padres 8, Astros 6

WP Ernesto Frieri (1-1) 1.2IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 3K 0HR

LP Mark Melancon (1-1) 0.2IP 3H 4R 2ER 1BB 0K 0HR

S Heath Bell (4) 1IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 2K 0HR

Clayton Richard was able to escape with a no decision despite allowing six runs as the Padres offense was able to outscore the Astros 8-6 on Sunday.

Nick Hundley gave the Padres an early lead with his third homerun of the season in the second.

But Houston answered back when second baseman Bill Hall hit a two run single to left scoring two runs before he was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double.

Hunter Pence doubled in a run in the third before scoring himself on a base hit by Carlos Lee to put the Astros up three runs.

The struggling Jorge Cantu hit a two run homer to bring the Padres within a run in the fifth. Cantu went 1-4 with 3 RBI, raising his average to .176. He also drew a walk with the bases loaded in the 8^th.

Pence would score again on a hit by Lee, this time a double in the bottom of the 6^th.  Lee would then score on a single by Chris Johnson.

Jason Bartlett netted his first RBI as a Friar with a one-out single in the eighth with two on. After a walk by pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe, Will Venable singled to centerfield scoring Cameron Maybin and Bartlett to take the lead. They would score another on walk by Cantu with the bags full.

Heath Bell then came in and earned his fourth save of the young season. His streak of consecutive saves was in serious jeopardy when Will Venable had a fly ball bounce of his glove with one out with runners on first and second. That loaded the bases with one out and Mat Downs coming to the plate.

Bell struck out downs looking after throwing three balls to start the at-bat. Bell then got Jason Borgeous to ground out to third to end the Astros threat and get his 38^th consecutive save.