HOUSTON – Jeff Kent hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Houston Astros beat Philadelphia 7-4 Wednesday to sweep the season series from the Phillies for the first time.

Kent also connected in the second inning, and Carlos Beltran and Morgan Ensberg each homered. Houston went 6-0 against the Phillies and won for the eighth time in 10 games overall. The Astros’ only other season sweep was against Montreal in 2001.

Philadelphia took a 4-3 lead in the seventh on Jimmy Rollins’ run-scoring triple off Mike Gallo, but the Astros rallied in the eighth, when Felix Rodriguez (5-7) opened with walks to Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell.

Lance Berkman singled home the tying run, and Biggio homered to left.

Chad Qualls (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth and Brad Lidge, Houston’s fifth pitcher, got three outs for his 17th save in 20 chances, completing a five-hitter.

Phillies starter Eric Milton allowed three solo homers and five hits in six innings, and was denied a chance to become the first pitcher since Red Donahue in 1899 to start the season 14-2. He struck out six and walked two.

Jim Thome scored the game’s first run in the second when Doug Glanville grounded into a double play. Rollins scored on sacrifice flies by Bobby Abreu in the third and fifth innings to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.

Notes: Milton allowed three homers Wednesday, extending his total to a major league-leading 36. … Phillies OF Doug Glanville turned 34. … Kent had his 16th multihomer game.

AP-ES-08-25-04 1713EDT