Bagwell Powers Astros’ Victory

Jeff Bagwell hit two home runs and rookie Lance Berkman hit his first two major league homers Saturday night as the Houston Astros beat the San Diego Padres, 8-5, extending the Padres’ losing streak to nine games.

The Astros are 8-0 against the Padres this season and can complete the season sweep today. Houston lost to San Diego in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

Bagwell, third in the majors in homers behind Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa with 35, hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh against Dan Miceli and a solo shot against Carlos Reyes with two out in the ninth. Both were just left of dead center field, giving Bagwell his fourth multihomer game of the year.

Berkman, promoted from triple-A New Orleans on July 16, hit a two-run shot in the fourth against Padre ace Andy Ashby for his first major league homer.

Tony Gwynn went hitless for the second consecutive game to remain nine short of 3,000 for his career.