Pence Ends Braves Winning Streak

HOUSTON (AP) — Hunter Pence returned from a day off with back trouble and homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros snapped a four-game skid with an 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night. Pence missed his first game this season on Sunday while dealing with tightness in his lower back. He said before the game that he felt great and then quickly showed it by extending his career-best hitting streak to 23 games with a two-run homer off Derek Lowe (3-5) in the third inning. He also drove in two runs with single in Houston’s five-run sixth inning. Pence’s hitting streak is the longest active streak in the majors. Wandy Rodriguez (4-3) allowed two hits in six scoreless innings for the win in his return from the disabled list. Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.