San Diego, CA -- (Sports Network) - Veteran Brian Moehler, largely ineffective so far this season, pitched six solid innings of one-run ball and a three-run throwing error by Chase Headley opened the floodgates, as Houston buried San Diego, 7-1, at Petco Park.

Moehler (5-4) scattered four hits with four walks and eight strikeouts, while his counterpart Walter Silva (0-2) was hit for six runs -- three earned -- on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts over four frames.

"It was more of a stress game, but they were down 6-1 so I didn't think I had to be perfect with everything," said Moehler. "I just tried to limit the amount of damage. We made some pitches when we had to and we made some plays when we needed to."

Kaz Matsui drove in a run and Darin Erstad scored twice for the Astros, who have split their last four games.

Tony Gwynn, Jr. finished 2-for-5 and Eliezer Alfonzo accounted for San Diego's lone run with a solo home run. The Padres have lost two of three.

San Diego scored the game's first run on Alfonzo's solo shot to dead center in the second, but its bats were quieted for the remainder of the game.

Houston did all of the damage it needed in the fourth. Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee hit successive singles, the last scoring Tejada for a tie game. After a mound conference, Geoff Blum singled home Berkman, and one out later, Erstad walked to load the bases. Matsui then punched a single to deep short, scoring one, and the pitcher Moehler reached on a wild throw by Headley at third, clearing the bases for a 6-1 advantage.

"It comes down to one play," said Headley. "If I make that play at third then we have a chance. It's hard to battle back."

The Astros piled on one more run in the ninth on Matt Kata's sacrifice fly that scored Erstad.

Game Notes

Moehler has won his last three starts...Headley's costly error was his third of the season...Scott Hairston stole his seventh base for the Padres...Lee now has 46 RBI on the campaign...Moehler threw 74 of his 115 pitches for strikes.