Maddux leads Pads over Astros

Greg Maddux did a little bit of everything for the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Most importantly, he stopped a skid.

Maddux held Houston to two hits in six innings, had two hits himself and fielded his position like the Gold Glover he is to help the Padres to a 5-3 win over the Astros that prevented a three-game sweep.

It was the first time this season that the 41-year-old Maddux (9-9) won consecutive starts. He earned the 342nd win of his brilliant career, tying Tim Keefe for ninth on the all-time list.

The Padres, who are trying to win their third straight NL West title, pulled within four games of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lost 6-2 at Atlanta. San Diego went into the day tied with Philadelphia for the wild-card lead.

The Padres won for just the 17th time in 36 games since the All-Star break, when they led the division by one game over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo homer off Matt Albers (3-6), and Brian Giles had three hits and an RBI. Trevor Hoffman gave up Mike Lamb's RBI single in the ninth before striking out Eric Bruntlett with two runners on for his 31st save in 34 chances, and the 513th save of his career.

Maddux had a scary moment in the third when he went from first to third on Giles' single down the left-field line. Maddux slid in ahead of the throw and caught his left foot on the bag, twisting his body around. After being checked by a team trainer and manager Bud Black, Maddux stayed in the game and threw three more scoreless innings.

After allowing Lance Berkman's solo homer to left with two outs in the first, Maddux retired 12 straight until allowing a single to Eric Bruntlett with two outs in the fifth. Bruntlett stole second and was stranded. Maddux allowed one run, struck out four and walked none.

Maddux singled to center in the third and beat out an infield single to shortstop in the fifth.

Berkman's homer, his 24th, was his third of the series. He homered twice on Friday night, providing all the Astros' runs in a 3-1 win.

San Diego's anemic offense came alive in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Gonzalez singled and Khalil Greene doubled opening the inning, followed by Rob Mackowiak's RBI groundout and Terrmel Sledge's sacrifice fly.

Gonzalez homered to right leading off the sixth, his 20th. Albers issued three straight walks with two outs and made way for Mark McLemore, who promptly walked pinch-hitter Mike Cameron to give San Diego a 4-1 lead. Giles followed with an RBI single to left. Josh Bard was thrown out trying to score from second, ending the inning.

Albers allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out three and walked three.

Houston's Jason Lane hit an RBI single in the seventh.

Notes:@ Astros ace Roy Oswalt said it's possible he'll miss his next scheduled start because of a strained left oblique sustained in Saturday night's game. Asked how it felt Sunday, Oswalt said "not great." Oswalt said he'll know more after throwing on flat ground, probably on Monday after the team returns to Houston. ... Astros slugger Carlos Lee (strained right hip flexor) missed his first start of the season. He pinch-hit in the ninth and popped out. ... Padres ace Jake Peavy is scheduled to start Wednesday at the New York Mets on his regular four days rest. Black had considered giving him an extra day. ... Black said he tentatively plans to start LF Milton Bradley on Tuesday at the New York Mets. Bradley injured his right hamstring on Aug. 3 and hasn't started since. Bradley pinch-hit in the eighth, just his second appearance since Aug. 3, and grounded out.