After dropping the final two games in Seattle to the Mariners to lose that series, the Astros began a fresh three-game set with the Padres in San Diego on Friday. Thanks to a couple of big homers, they would pull out the win.

Final Score: Astros 6, Padres 3

Astros' Record: 79-55, first in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Blake Taylor (3-4)

Losing Pitcher: Emilio Pagan (4-1)

Urquidy returns to the rotation

After completing his rehab assignment, Jose Urquidy made his return to the big-league team on Friday in the opener, making his first start since June 29th. Knowing he would be on a pitch count, he tried to get as far as possible. After erasing a walk in the first and single in the second, he would allow the first run of the game in the bottom of the third, giving up a leadoff double that moved to third and scored on an infield single, putting San Diego in front 1-0.

He rebounded with a 1-2-3 fourth but gave up another run in the fifth after a leadoff single set up an RBI double, ending his night as Yimi Garcia would finish the inning. Urquidy's final line: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 71 P.

Correa launches, but Padres tie it up

Urquidy would not leave in line for a loss, though, thanks to his offense putting the Astros in front in the top of the fourth. Michael Brantley started the frame with a leadoff single, then moved to second on a walk by Kyle Tucker. Both would score with two outs, as Carlos Correa would launch a go-ahead three-run homer.

Houston's relievers would allow the Padres to tie in the bottom of the sixth, with Brooks Raley issuing a walk and single while getting one out, followed by Phil Maton, who allowed an RBI single to tie it up 3-3 before finishing the inning. Kendall Graveman was the next reliever out, taking over in the bottom of the seventh. He had a laborious inning, loading the bases with three walks while getting two outs before Dusty Baker would make the change to Blake Taylor to get the third out.

Astros take the opener

The Astros would get another big homer in the top of the eighth to go back in front. It was set up by a great at-bat by Alex Bregman, winning a nine-pitch battle with two outs by getting a single. That brought Kyle Tucker to the plate, who blasted the 393-foot go-ahead homer, putting Houston back on top 5-3.

Ryne Stanek came in as the setup man in the bottom of the eighth and played the role well with a 1-2-3 frame to keep the two-run lead going to the ninth. Yordan Alvarez pinch-hit with one out in the top of the ninth, getting into scoring position with a double and setting up the debut of Jose Siri, who pinch-ran. Siri would score from second with two outs on an RBI single by Jake Meyers, extending the lead to 6-3.

That set up Houston's closer, Ryan Pressly, to try and earn his 23rd save of the season in the bottom of the ninth. He issued a one-out walk to Fernando Tatis Jr. but erased it with a game-ending double play, wrapping up the win for Houston and giving them the chance to lock up a series win on Saturday.

Up Next: The middle game of this series will get started at 7:40 PM Central on Saturday. Framber Valdez (9-4, 2.91 ERA) will try again to get his tenth win of the season for Houston, while former-Astro Joe Musgrove (9-8, 2.85 ERA) is slated to be on the mound for San Diego.