Rodriguez finishes complete game in Astros’ 4-1 win over Florida

Rodriguez shuts down Florida in Astros’ 4-1 win

HOUSTON — Wandy Rodriguez limited Florida’s surging lineup to just four hits while pitching into the ninth inning, leading the Houston Astros to a 4-1 win over the Marlins on Thursday night.

The Marlins’ streak of 10-hit games ended at 15, the best stretch since the St. Louis Browns had one that long in 1937, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau. The record is 18, set by the 1922 Browns and matched by the 1925 Cleveland Indians.

With Roger Clemens sitting in the stands, Rodriguez (12-7) allowed an unearned run, struck out seven and picked up an RBI with an unlikely double. Jose Valverde finished the four-hitter for his 18th save in 22 chances.

Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence homered against Florida ace Josh Johnson (12-3), who lost for the first time in seven starts.

Rodriguez’s only bad inning was the first, when the Marlins loaded the bases with one out. Geoff Blum fielded Dan Uggla’s bouncer and touched third, but Uggla beat the throw to first to drive in Emilio Bonifacio.

Hanley Ramirez beat out an infield single with two outs in the third to stretch his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games. But Florida’s offense produced virtually nothing after that.

Miguel Tejada led off the Houston fourth with a single to right. One out later, Lee homered to left, his 21st of the season and second of the series. Blum grounded out before Pence hit a solo homer to center, his 19th of the season.

Johnson allowed two homers in a game for just the third time in 25 starts this season.

Humberto Quintero led off the Astros’ fifth with a double to the left-field corner. With Florida’s defense drawn in, Rodriguez faked a bunt attempt, then drove his second double of the season off the right-field wall for a 4-1 lead. It was only the second RBI of the season for Rodriguez, who came in hitting .091.

The Astros loaded the bases for Lee and Cristhian Martinez relieved. Johnson lasted only 4 1-3 innings, his shortest outing since July 1. Lee grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Rodriguez retired 15 in a row, five on strikeouts, after Ramirez’s single in the third. He threw only 93 pitches through eight innings.

Chris Coghlan and Bonifacio led off the ninth with singles and Houston manager Cecil Cooper brought in Valverde, who also earned a save in Wednesday’s 6-3 win.

NOTES: Ramirez did not score a run for the first time in nine games. … Lee has four homers and 15 RBIs in August. … Marlins 1B Jorge Cantu was scratched about an hour before the game with stiffness in his neck. Gaby Sanchez replaced him. … The Astros acquired minor league infielder Jose Vallejo as part of the deal that sent catcher Ivan Rodriguez back to the Texas Rangers. The 22-year-old Vallejo was the Rangers’ minor league defensive player of the year last season. Vallejo will report to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday. … Clemens pitched for Houston from 2004-06 and has a home in the area. His son Koby is a minor leaguer in the Astros organization.