The Marlins wasted one scoring chance after another, eventually stranding 17 runners. They left the bases loaded three times and committed three errors that led to three unearned runs.
Florida had 11 hits, making it the 15th straight game the Marlins have had at least 10. That ties a major league record set in 1929 by the New York Giants and tied in 1937 by the St. Louis Browns.
After the Marlins took a 2-0 lead in the first, the Astros quickly overcame it. Lance Berkman doubled home the tying run in the bottom half of the inning and scored the go-ahead tally on a double by Miguel Tejada.
Humberto Quintero hit a solo homer for the Astros in the fourth and Houston added two in the seventh when Bourn produced his RBI triple and scored on a single by Jeff Keppinger.
Samuel Gervacio (1-0) got the win in relief by striking out the only batter he faced in the fifth inning.
Jose Valverde, the sixth Houston pitcher, worked the ninth for his 17th save.
The loss went to Sean West (4-5), who gave up three earned runs on six hits in four innings.
Florida fell three games behind Colorado in the tight National League wild-card race.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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