HOUSTON (AP) – Roy Oswalt made a strong case for late All-Star voters, pitching a five-hitter to lead the Houston Astros past the San Diego Padres 4-1 Monday.

Craig Biggio hit a go-ahead, three-run homer for the Astros, who have won eight of 11. It was Biggio’s 2,722nd hit, moving him past Lou Gehrig for 51st on the career list.

Oswalt (11-7) threw his third complete game this season and the eighth of his career, lowering his ERA to 2.44. He struck out six and walked two to win his fifth straight start and eighth decision in a row at home.

Hoping for his first All-Star berth, Oswalt is one of five pitchers eligible to earn the final spot on the National League team in Internet balloting this week. Trevor Hoffman, Brett Myers, Billy Wagner and Brandon Webb are the others.

Biggio hit a two-out pitch over the San Diego bullpen in the seventh for his 11th home run and a 4-1 lead. Padres starter Brian Lawrence (5-7) went seven innings, allowing four runs and nine hits. He struck out five.

Morgan Ensberg’s run-scoring single put Houston up 1-0 in the first. His 60 RBIs are the most by an Astros player before the All-Star break since Lance Berkman had 81 in 2002. Still, Ensbreg was left off the NL roster Sunday.

Geoff Blum’s RBI double tied it at 1 in the fourth.

Oswalt got out of a jam in the sixth when he picked Mark Sweeney off third base.

Notes: Oswalt tied Angels ace Bartolo Colon for the most wins since the 2004 All-Star break with 23. … Ensberg extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games. … Houston’s Willy Taveras got his major league-leading 38th infield single in the first inning. He also had his third career two-steal game. … The Padres are 17-18 on the Fourth of July. They had won six times in a row.

AP-ES-07-04-05 1627EDT