Eckstein delivers big hit as Padres beat Astros 4-3 but lose Gonzalez

Eckstein gets big hit in Padres’ win over Astros

SAN DIEGO — David Eckstein drove in the go-ahead run to cap a three-run rally in the seventh inning, and San Diego beat the Houston Astros 4-3 on Tuesday night, when the Padres lost Adrian Gonzalez to a knee injury.

Gonzalez left the game with a strained right knee in the fourth inning after sliding hard into third base on a triple. It was not immediately known if Gonzalez will miss any time.

Josh Banks (1-0) threw seven solid innings as he allowed three runs on five hits in his first major league start of the season. The right-hander, making his first start of the season after being recalled from Triple-A Portland on June 16, struck out four and walked one with one hit batter.

Heath Bell got the final four outs for his 22nd save in 23 chances. Bell is tied with Brian Fuentes of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the major league lead.

Trailing 3-1, San Diego went ahead with three runs in the seventh off Chris Sampson (4-1).

Chase Headley led off the inning with a single. After a strikeout and a sacrifice, pinch-hitter Will Venable doubled in one run. Tony Gwynn followed with an RBI single and went to second on the throw home. Eckstein then singled to center, with Gwynn just beating the throw home from Michael Bourn for a 4-3 lead.

Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer and Mike Hampton pitched six strong innings after coming off the disabled list for the Astros.

Berkman continued his recent hot streak with his 17th home run that put Houston ahead 3-0 in the third inning. Berkman went 2 for 3 with a walk and is 10 for 19 with three homers and nine RBIs in his last six games.

Hampton allowed one run on three hits, with six strikeouts and one walk. The left-hander had been on the 15-day DL since June 14 with a left groin strain before being activated on Tuesday.

Gonzalez’s triple in the fourth inning drove in Scott Hairston for his 48th RBI. But in 24 games since June 2, Gonzalez has hit just .221 with two home runs with five RBIs as his batting average has dropped from .289 to .271.

The injury also puts into jeopardy Gonzalez’s streak of 283 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors. He is 23 games short of breaking Steve Garvey’s San Diego record of 305 games.

NOTES: The triple by Gonzalez was just the seventh in his career. … Bell recorded his second save of longer than one inning. His previous came on May 15 when he got the final four outs against Cincinnati. … Houston’s record against the NL West dropped to 12-5.