HOUSTON – Brandon Backe got through the first inning, then led the Houston Astros to their fifth consecutive victory.
Backe struck out six in seven effective innings, Ty Wigginton homered and drove in three runs, and the Astros beat the Giants 3-1 on Monday night.
Backe has struggled in first innings this season, allowing 21 of his 80 earned runs. He walked two batters in the first on Monday, but gave himself a psychological boost by not allowing a run.
Jonathan Sánchez (8-9) didn't allow a hit for five innings, but again got no support from San Francisco's bats. The Giants have scored one run or less during 12 of his 24 appearances this season.
Sánchez didn't speak to the media after the game.
"It was a tough loss," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It wasn't like they hit him hard. Anytime you throw the way he did, it's a tough one to lose."
Humberto Quintero led off the Houston sixth with a broken-bat single just over shortstop Ivan Ochoa. Backe beat out a bunt that got past Sánchez, and Kaz Matsui advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt.
Wigginton then singled to center field to give Houston a 2-1 lead.
Backe walked Rich Aurilia with one out in the seventh, but Emmanuel Burriss hit a hard grounder back to the mound to start a double play. Backe pumped his fist as he ran to the dugout.
The Giants won their last two games after trailing in the ninth inning or later, but Houston closer José Valverde made sure that didn't happen this time, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Sánchez retired the first eight batters he faced, then walked Backe with two outs in the Houston third. Matsui flew out to end the inning.
The Astros went down in order again in the fourth. Sánchez retired seven of the first 12 Houston hitters he faced on groundouts.
Mark Loretta and Hunter Pence flied out to start the Astros' fifth, and Sánchez struck out Michael Bourn.
"He threw great," Bochy said. "It's hard to throw better than he did tonight. He had good command, he located very well, he had good stuff."
Sánchez has lost his last five decisions and San Francisco has lost in each of his last seven starts.
