Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Mark Loretta's pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning broke a tie and sent Houston over the New York Mets, 7-3, in the first installment of a three-game set from Minute Maid Park.

Kaz Matsui and Carlos Lee homered and Miguel Tejada also drove in a run for the Astros, who have won three of four.

Doug Brocail (5-5) notched the win with two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief. Starter Brandon Backe added a homer in the victory.

David Wright, Fernando Tatis and Damion Easley knocked in a run each for the Mets, who have dropped three of four.

Aaron Heilman (1-5) suffered the loss, charged with all four runs in the eighth.

Houston effectively wrapped up the game with a four-run eighth inning.

Heilman allowed a leadoff single to Tejada and a ground-rule double to Lance Berkman. Lee was given a free pass to load the bases, but Hunter Pence grounded into a force out at home.

Loretta stepped in to bat for Brocail and ripped a grand slam to left which put the Astros ahead 7-3. Pedro Feliciano was called on and retired the next two batters but the damage was done.

Jose Valverde nailed down the win by retiring the side in order in the ninth.

Each side traded runs in the first inning, with Wright's RBI single countered by a Matsui leadoff homer. For Matsui, it was his seventh career leadoff homer, and first with Houston.

Backe slammed his second homer of the season, another leadoff blast, to give the Astros a 2-1 lead in the third.

However, the Mets came back with two in the fourth on back-to-back run-scoring singles from Tatis and Easley.

All the work was for naught, as Lee led off the home half with a solo homer which forged a 3-3 tie.

The Mets squandered a huge chance to take the lead in the seventh against four Astros hurlers, loading the bases with one out on two base hits and a bunt single. Unfortunately, Wright grounded into a 5-2 force out and Carlos Delgado flew out to left.