SAN DIEGO -- The AL West-leading Houston Astros opened their series at Petco Park on Friday seeking to set a tone against the Padres in a 6-3 win.
Coming off a series loss to Toronto, Houston hoped to get back on track and keep pace atop the division.
That momentum came courtesy of right fielder Cam Smith, who delivered a pair of long balls to power the lineup. Despite Houston as a team (.703 OPS) and Smith in particular (.186 average) struggling against southpaws, Smith immediately set the tone against left-handed starter Robbie Ray.
In the top of the second inning, Smith launched a line-drive solo home run to left-center field. After Ray was pulled in the sixth, Padres manager Craig Stammen turned to left-hander Yuki Matsui -- only for Smith to strike again, sending another solo shot over the left-field wall to extend Houston's lead to 5-3.
The Astros added an insurance run in the top of the eighth when Smith started another rally with a single, eventually coming home on a Jeremy Peña double play to extend the lead to 6-3.