The File on Kile: He’s Fine for Nine

SAN DIEGO —  Darryl Kile is still in his May mode.

Kile pitched a five-hit shutout to win his sixth consecutive decision and the Houston Astros had three homers off Fernando Valenzuela as they defeated the San Diego Padres, 9-0, Sunday.

Kile (7-2) defeated the Padres at Houston on May 29 to complete a 5-0 month. After getting a no-decision in Houston’s 4-3, 10-inning victory against the Dodgers on Tuesday, he returned to the win column.

“It wasn’t the game where I had my best stuff, but I had my best command,” Kile said. “I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do. Fortunately, my game plan was right and things worked out.”

Kile gave up four singles and a double in pitching his second shutout and complete game this season. He threw a four-hitter in defeating Florida, 1-0, on May 4 to start his winning streak.

While Kile was throwing 93-94 mph in the ninth, Valenzuela was throwing 84 mph in the sixth inning, when he gave up consecutive homers to Tony Eusebio and James Mouton.

Tony Gwynn singled with two out in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 18, matching the second longest of his career. He also tied San Diego native Ted Williams for 56th on the career hit list with 2,654.

Sean Berry went three for five and hit the first of three solo homers off Valenzuela (2-8), who had his worst outing of the season.

Valenzuela, 36, gave up a season-high seven earned runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Kile and all but one Astro regular had a hit off Valenzuela.

Valenzuela was shaky from the start, giving up three runs on five hits with a wild pitch in the first inning. Jeff Bagwell and Eusebio had run-scoring singles.

Bagwell greeted Todd Erdos, who was making his major league debut in relief of Valenzuela, with a two-out, run-scoring single to make it 7-0.

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Next Series For Dodgers

WHO: Houston Astros

WHERE: Dodger Stadium

WHEN: Tonight: 7 p.m., Tuesday: 7 p.m., Wednesday: 7:30 p.m.