Astros Get Off to Fast Start in 3-2 Victory Over Padres

Bill Doran’s two-run homer sparked a three-run first inning and Bob Knepper and Larry Andersen combined on a nine-hitter as the Houston Astros defeated the San Diego Padres, 3-2, Thursday.

Houston players have homered in 14 of their last 15 games.

Billy Hatcher led off the first against Eric Show, 7-10, with a ground-rule double to left center and Doran hit an 0-2 pitch to right for his sixth homer. Terry Puhl then singled and Kevin Bass walked. Both runners advanced on a double steal as Buddy Bell struck out and Puhl scored on a groundout by Craig Reynolds.

The double steal gave Houston 154 stolen bases for the season, tops in the major leagues.

Knepper, 11-3, pitched six innings, allowing seven hits, walking two and striking out three. Andersen gave up two hits and struck out three in three innings to earn his fifth save.

San Diego’s Dickie Thon went 3 for 4 with two stolen bases. Randy Ready also had three hits for the Padres.

The Padres scored a run in the third on singles by Show, Stanley Jefferson and Ready. San Diego made it 3-2 in the sixth when Carmelo Martinez walked, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Thon’s single.